Loneliness was better than the loss of self in the reek and pressure of an unfamiliar throng.

For the first few days he had wandered over Paris without calling even on the 'avoue' to whom M.Hebert had directed him.

He felt with the instinctive acuteness of a mind which, under sounder training, would have achieved no mean distinction, that it was a safe precaution to imbue himself with the atmosphere of the place, and seize on those general ideas which in great capitals are so contagious that they are often more accurately caught by the first impressions than by subsequent habit, before he brought his mind into collision with those of the individuals he had practically to deal with.
At last he repaired to the 'avoue,' M.Gandrin, Rue St.Florentin.

He had mechanically formed his idea of the abode and person of an 'avoue' from his association with M.Hebert.He expected to find a dull house in a dull street near the centre of business, remote from the haunts of idlers, and a grave man of unpretending exterior and matured years.
He arrived at a hotel newly fronted, richly decorated, in the fashionable quartier close by the Tuileries.

He entered a wide 'porte cochere,' and was directed by the concierge to mount 'au premier.' There, first detained in an office faultlessly neat, with spruce young men at smart desks, he was at length admitted into a noble salon, and into the presence of a gentleman lounging in an easy-chair before a magnificent bureau of 'marqueterie, genre Louis Seize,' engaged in patting a white curly lapdog, with a pointed nose and a shrill bark.
The gentleman rose politely on his entrance, and released the dog, who, after sniffing the Marquis, condescended not to bite.
"Monsieur le Marquis," said M.Gandrin, glancing at the card and the introductory note from M.Hebert, which Alain had sent in, and which lay on the 'secretaire' beside heaps of letters nicely arranged and labelled, "charmed to make the honour of your acquaintance; just arrived at Paris?
So M.Hebert--a very worthy person whom I have never seen, but with whom I have had correspondence--tells me you wish for my advice; in fact, he wrote to me some days ago, mentioning the business in question,--consolidation of mortgages.