"I'm capable of going down to the Rue des Grès, of crossing the Place Saint-Michel, of striking off through the Rue Monsieur-le-Prince, of taking the Rue de Vaugirard, of passing the Carmelites, of turning into the Rue d'Assas, of reaching the Rue du Cherche-Midi, of leaving behind me the War Ministry, of hurrying through the Rue des Vieilles-Tuileries, of striding through the Boulevard, of following the Chaussée du Maine, of crossing over the Barrière, and of entering Richefeu's."

He reels off the directions without a mistake -- a sarcasm designed to irritate, a joke spooling on long after it's funny, as all Grantaire's jokes. But a proof, as well: see! he knows his directions as well as a sober man.

"I am capable of that. My shoes are capable of it."