one o'clock sharp
Their arrangements were all made . They were to go to the mayor 's office -- the two sisters of Coupeau declared they would remain at home , their presence not being necessary there . Then Mother Coupeau began to weep , saying she wished to go early and hide in a corner , and they promised to take her . The hour fixed for the party to assemble at the Moulin d'Argent was one o'clock sharp . From then they were to seek an appetite on the Plaine-St-Denis and return by rail . Saturday morning , as he dressed , Coupeau thought with some anxiety of his scanty funds ; he supposed he ought to offer a glass of wine and a slice of ham to his witnesses while waiting for dinner ; unexpected expenses might arise ; no , it was clear that twenty sous was not enough . He consequently , after taking Claude and Etienne to Mlle Boche , who promised to appear with them at dinner , ran to his brother-in-law and borrowed ten francs ; he did it with reluctance , and the words stuck in his throat , for he half expected a refusal .