The servants had ceased to expect their masters to dinner; old Raymond could not understand why they returned hungry; it gave him a very bad impression of the place where they had been, and the cook was very sorry that she had not divined their condition. But our travellers found everything delicious; Master Bonneau's cooking was still foremost in their thoughts.
On the day following this memorable excursion, Adeline was too tired to accompany Edouard to Villeneuve-Saint-Georges, and as they had given their word to Monsieur Renâré, the young wife was obliged to consent to let her husband go alone.
Murville promised to be absent only a short time; he intended to return to dinner.
"Take care," said Madame Germeuil, "and don't have any unpleasant experiences."
"I will wager, mamma, that you are still thinking of that face with the moustaches that we saw at the end of the garden."
"Yes, I don't deny it; indeed I will confess, my children, that I dreamed of it all night."
"That is not surprising; when something has excited us intensely during the day, our imagination sees the same thing in a dream. But that does not mean that we should conceive dismal presentiments from the fact."
"Really, mamma, you will make me unhappy," said Adeline; "I begin to wish already that Edouard were home again."
"And yet one must be very childish to be afraid without any reason! Come, off with you, my dear, and return quickly; above all things, do not dine at the Epée Couronnée!"
Edouard kissed Madame Germeuil's hand; he embraced his wife, as people embrace on the day after their wedding, when they have found the first night all that they hoped, or when they think that they have found it so, which is the same thing, and which happens to many people who know nothing about it, and who consider themselves very shrewd.
He arrived in Villeneuve-Saint-Georges, and alighted from the carriage in front of the house which was soon to belong to him.
"Is Monsieur Renâré in?" he asked the concierge.
"He is already at the notary's, monsieur."
"The deuce! what promptitude! I must not keep him waiting."
Murville left the cabriolet in the courtyard, and walked to the notary's. The deeds were ready, and Monsieur Renâré was impatiently awaiting the arrival of the purchaser; for, having learned the night before of the episode at the Epée Couronnée, he had begun to feel some anxiety concerning the bargain; but Edouard's presence, and especially the sight of a wallet stuffed with good bank notes, restored all his tranquillity.