This summons fulfilled Aubry's dearest hopes, and yet a court of justice is so redoubtable a place that he felt a shiver run through his veins as he read it. But we hasten to say that the certainty of seeing Ascanio again, and the longing to save the friend upon whom he had brought disaster, soon put an end to this demonstration of weakness on our student's part.
The summons fixed the hour of noon, and it was only nine o'clock: so he called upon Gervaise, whom he found no less agitated than on the previous day.
"Well?" said she, inquiringly.
"Well!" repeated Jacques triumphantly, exhibiting the paper covered with hieroglyphics which he held in his hand. "Here it is."
"For what hour?"
"Noon. That's all I was able to read."
"Then you don't know what you're accused of?"
"Why, of seducing you, my little Gervaise, I presume."
"You won't forget that you yourself insisted upon my doing it?"
"Why no; I am ready to give you a certificate that you utterly refused to do it."