However, when they had got to the lower part of the boulevard near the Grotto, his feelings were hurt at sight of the desperate eagerness displayed by the female vendors of tapers and bouquets, who with the rough fierceness of conquerors assailed the passers-by in bands.
They were mostly young women, with bare heads, or with kerchiefs tied over their hair, and they displayed extraordinary effrontery.

Even the old ones were scarcely more discreet.

With parcels of tapers under their arms, they brandished the one which they offered for sale and even thrust it into the hand of the promenader.

"Monsieur," "madame," they called, "buy a taper, buy a taper, it will bring you luck!" One gentleman, who was surrounded and shaken by three of the youngest of these harpies, almost lost the skirts of his frock-coat in attempting to escape their clutches.

Then the scene began afresh with the bouquets--large round bouquets they were, carelessly fastened together and looking like cabbages.