He promised to be back by half-past seven, to let the examining magistrate, who had an engagement for the evening, get away.
The Duke spent his time between the drawing-room, where M.Formery entertained him with anecdotes of his professional skill, and the boudoir, where Germaine was entertaining envious young friends who came to see her wedding presents.

The friends of Germaine were always a little ill at ease in the society of the Duke, belonging as they did to that wealthy middle class which has made France what she is.

His indifference to the doings of the old friends of his family saddened them; and they were unable to understand his airy and persistent trifling.

It seemed to them a discord in the cosmic tune.
The afternoon wore away, and at half-past seven Guerchard had not returned.

M.Formery waited for him, fuming, for ten minutes, then left the house in charge of the inspector, and went off to his engagement.
M.Gournay-Martin was entertaining two financiers and their wives, two of their daughters, and two friends of the Duke, the Baron de Vernan and the Comte de Vauvineuse, at dinner that night.