At a quarter before twelve Jacques Aubry remembered that his summons bade him appear at twelve. He took leave of Gervaise, and as he had a long distance to go he ran all the way. Twelve o'clock was striking as he knocked at the lieutenant criminal's door.
"Come in!" cried the same nasal voice.
He was not called upon to repeat the invitation, for Jacques Aubry, with a smile on his lips, his nose in the air, and his cap over his ear, at once stood in the tall black-coated man's presence.
"What is your name?" asked the tall man.
"Jacques Aubry," replied the student.
"What are you?"
"Law student."
"What have you been doing?"
"Seducing girls."
"Aha! you're the man against whom a complaint was lodged yesterday by—by—"