And the old officer passed his hand rather complacently through his thick white hair.
"Come, uncle, it is quarter of seven," said Olivier, with all a lover's impatience, "and quite time we were off."
"Very well, my boy, we will start at once. Give me my hat and cane, Mother Barbançon," said the old officer, not daring to look either to the right or left, for fear of disarranging the wonderful rabbit-eared bow.
The evening was superb, and the distance from the Batignolles to the Rue de Monceau very short, so the commander and Olivier proceeded modestly on foot to Herminie's home.
Fortunately the exercise this involved softened the rigid folds of the commander's cravat a little, and though he may have looked a little less imposing when he reached his destination, this fact did not impair in the least the noble expression of his honest, manly face.
CHAPTER XXX.
THE SIGNING OF THE MARRIAGE CONTRACTS.
On the very evening that the two marriage contracts were to be signed, M. Bouffard, the owner of the house that sheltered Herminie, his pianist, as he had styled her ever since the young girl began giving lessons to his daughter,—M. Bouffard came after dinner to make his usual tour of inspection, for rent day was close at hand.
He reached the house about half-past six in the evening, and seated himself in Madame Moufflon's room to question her in regard to the supposed financial condition of the tenants, and to ascertain if any of them showed signs of uneasiness as the dread moment approached.
"Why, no, M. Bouffard. I can't say that any of them do," replied Madame Moufflon, "that is, except the new tenant on the third floor."
"Well, what about him?" inquired M. Bouffard, anxiously.