As to the Marquis de Chouard, he was watching for times and seasons.

But among all those men who were busy following in the tracks of Venus--a Venus with the rouge scarce washed from her cheeks--Muffat was at once the most ardent and the most tortured by the novel sensations of desire and fear and anger warring in his anguished members.

A formal promise had been made him; Nana was awaiting him.

Why then had she taken her departure two days sooner than was expected?
He resolved to betake himself to La Mignotte after dinner that same evening.

At night as the count was leaving the park Georges fled forth after him.