Now, we note this detail, for the pure satisfaction of being exact, it chanced that the 16th fell on Shrove Tuesday. Hesitations, scruples, particularly on the part of Aunt Gillenormand.

“Shrove Tuesday!” exclaimed the grandfather, “so much the better. There is a proverb:

Mariage un Mardi gras

N’aura point enfants ingrats.

109

Mariage un Mardi gras N’aura point enfants ingrats. 109

“Let us proceed. Here goes for the 16th! Do you want to delay, Marius?”