Night was closing in, and a small fine rain was beginning to fall.
It was the very evening that Nana was due at La Mignotte.

Ever since in the preceding May Steiner had bought her this country place she had from time to time been so filled with the desire of taking possession that she had wept hot tears about, but on each of these occasions Bordenave had refused to give her even the shortest leave and had deferred her holiday till September on the plea that he did not intend putting an understudy in her place, even for one evening, now that the exhibition was on.

Toward the close of August he spoke of October.

Nana was furious and declared that she would be at La Mignotte in the middle of September.

Nay, in order to dare Bordenave, she even invited a crowd of guests in his very presence.