Elise was a little doubtful about the matter, but she yielded to Patty’s argument and they went out in the street.  Patty stopped a passing cab, and giving the driver the address, the girls got in.

As they rolled smoothly along Patty’s spirits rose.  “You see, we did just the right thing,” she said; “and we’ll be back there now before Jules is.”

On they went, across the Seine and into a strange district, unlike any they had ever seen before.

But it was not long before they came to the address written on the paper.  The girls went into the shop and found to their dismay that the perfumery company was there no longer, but had moved some time since to another address.

With great dignity, and fairly good French, Patty inquired the present address of the firm, and, receiving it, returned to the cab.

“I’m determined,” she said to Elise, “to go on with this thing, now that I’ve begun it.  I’m going to find that Cyclamen, just because I’ve made up my mind to do so.”

The cabman seemed to know the address indicated, and started his horse off at a jog trot.  On they went, farther and farther, and getting into a more and more disagreeable district.  The streets grew narrower, the houses shabbier, and the people along the streets were noisy and boisterous.

Patty did not like to admit it, but she began to wish she had not come, and Elise was plainly frightened, for the people along the street stared at the pretty American girls driving about alone in a public conveyance.

At last Patty said in a low voice:  “It’s horrid, Elise, and I’m truly sorry I insisted on coming.  Shall we ask the man to go back?”

“Yes,” said Elise; “that is, if you think best.  But I hate to go any farther in this horrid quarter.”

So Patty explained to the driver that they had concluded not to go to the perfumer’s that day, and directed him to take them back to the Magasins du Louvre.

But the cabman objected to this proposition, and said they were now not far from the place they were in search of, and he would go on till they reached it.

Patty expostulated, but the cabman was firm in his decision.  He was not impertinent, but he seemed to think that the young ladies were too easily discouraged, and assured them they would soon reach their destination.  So they went on, and Patty and Elise grew more and more alarmed as their situation became more unpleasant.  It was certainly no place for them to be, unattended, and the fact that they could not persuade the cabman to go back dismayed them both.

But Patty’s pluck stood by her.  Grasping Elise’s hand firmly, she whispered:  “Don’t you collapse, Elise!  If you cry I’ll never forgive you!  Brace up now and help me through.  It will be all right if we don’t act afraid.”

“How can I help acting afraid?” said poor Elise, her teeth chattering, “when I’m s-scared to death!”