When the footman came to tell him, in the middle of the night, that there were some gentlemen below asking for him, he could not hold back any longer.

He got up and went downstairs in all haste.
"My dear Marquis," said Rougon, as he introduced to him the members of the Municipal Commission, "we want to ask a favour of you.

Will you allow us to go into the garden of the mansion ?" "By all means," replied the astonished marquis, "I will conduct you there myself." On the way thither he ascertained what their object was.

At the end of the garden rose a terrace which overlooked the plain.

A large portion of the ramparts had there tumbled in, leaving a boundless prospect to the view.