The other made a careless gesture full of cordiality, and taking his hat said—
“It is settled, isn’t it? Tomorrow at six o’clock?”
Charles explained once more that he could not absent himself longer, but that nothing prevented Emma—
“But,” she stammered, with a strange smile, “I am not sure—”
“Well, you must think it over. We’ll see. Night brings counsel.” Then to Léon, who was walking along with them, “Now that you are in our part of the world, I hope you’ll come and ask us for some dinner now and then.”
The clerk declared he would not fail to do so, being obliged, moreover, to go to Yonville on some business for his office. And they parted before the Saint-Herbland Passage just as the clock in the cathedral struck half-past eleven.