Arrived at the further end in front of the clock of the Institute, Rodolphe stopped short, pointed to the dial with a despairing gesture, and exclaimed:-- "Confound it all, a quarter to five! I am done for." "What is the matter ?" cried his astonished friend.
"The matter is," said Rodolphe, "that, thanks to your dragging me here in spite of myself, I have missed an appointment." "An important one ?" "I should think so; money that I was to call for at five o'clock at--Batignolles.

I shall never be able to get there.

Hang it; what am I to do ?" "Why," said the phalansterian, "nothing is simpler; come home with me and I will lend you some." "Impossible, you live at Montrouge, and I have business at six o'clock at the Chaussee d'Antin.

Confound it." "I have a trifle about me," said Providence, timidly, "but it is very little." "If I had enough to take a cab I might get to Batignolles in time." "Here is the contents of my purse, my dear fellow, thirty one sous." "Give it to me at once, that I may bolt," said Rodolphe, who had just heard five o'clock strike, and who hastened off to keep his appointment.
"It has been hard to get," said he, counting out his money.

"A hundred sous exactly.