Sans-Cravate; or, The Messengers; Little Streams

"Sans-Cravate; or, The Messengers; Little Streams" by Paul de Kock is a story set in early 19th-century Paris about a group of young men navigating romance and society on the fashionable Boulevard des Italiens. The story centers around Albert Vermoncey, a charming young man, along with Tobi Pigeonnier and Célestin de Valnoir, as they wander the boulevard, engaging in banter and observing the women of Paris. Their adventures begin with lighthearted comments on Madame Baldimer, a beautiful American woman, and interactions with characters like Bastringuette, a flower girl, and their messenger friend Sans-Cravate, setting the stage for a series of humorous and flirtatious escapades amidst societal observations.