Two footmen distinctly heard him say, "She cannot resist." He returned to the house, and burnt the letter in the large stove in the hall.
As he was sitting down to dinner, at six o'clock, two of his friends, M.de Courtivois and the Marquis de Chouze, insisted upon seeing him, in spite of all orders.

They would not be refused.

These gentlemen were anxious for him to join them in some pleasure party, but he declined, saying that he had a very important appointment.
At dinner he ate a little more than on the previous days.

He even asked the butler for a bottle of Chateau-Lafitte, the whole of which he drank himself.

While taking his coffee, he smoked a cigar in the dining room, contrary to the rules of the house.