Come with us; there will be good eating and merriment, and also some fine shooting, I pledge you my word!" Julien refused at first, but Claudet insisted, and showed him the necessity of getting more intimately acquainted with the notables of Auberive--people with whom he would be continually coming in contact as representing the administration of justice and various affairs in the canton.

He urged so well that young de Buxieres ended by giving his consent.

Manette received immediate instructions to prepare eatables for Hutinet, the keeper, to take at early dawn to the Belle-Etoile, and it was decided that the company should start at precisely eight o'clock.
The next morning, at the hour indicated, the 'grand chasserot' was already in the courtyard with his two hounds, Charbonneau and Montagnard, who were leaping and barking sonorously around him.

Julien, reminded of his promise by the unusual early uproar, dressed himself with a bad grace, and went down to join Claudet, who was bristling with impatience.

They started.