This point settled that Pitou thought more of Isidore than of Catherine, they spoke of marriage.
"I don't want to seem in a hurry," said the man, "but if you mean to make me happy, do not be too long about it."
Catherine took a month.
At the end of three weeks Ange, in full regimentals, went respectfully to pay a visit to Aunt Angelique, with the aim to inform her of his near at hand union with Catherine Billet.
Seeing her nephew from afar, she hastened to shut her door. But he did not hold back from the inhospitable door whence he had once been expelled.
He rapped gently.
"Who is there?" snarled Angelique, in her sourest voice.
"I—your dutiful nephew, Ange Pitou."
"Go on your bloody way, you September man of massacre!" cried Aunt Angelique.
"Auntie, I come to tell you of a bit of news which can not fail to make you jolly, because it is my happiness."