So, as a sort of compromise, they took apartments in the Rue de la Banne, the street which separates the old quarter from the new one.

As their abode was one of the row of houses bordering the old quarter, they still lived among the common people; nevertheless, they could see the town of the richer classes from their windows, so that they were just on the threshold of the promised land.
Their apartments, situated on the second floor, consisted of three large rooms--dining-room, drawing-room, and bedroom.

The first floor was occupied by the owner of the house, a stick and umbrella manufacturer, who had a shop on the ground floor.

The house, which was narrow and by no means deep, had only two storeys.

Felicite moved into it with a bitter pang.