midday
` Pray for the repose of the soul of the most noble Lord , the Duke Charles Henri François Padovani , Prince d'Olmitz , formerly Member of the Senate , Ambassador and Minister , Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour , who departed this life September 20 , 1880 , at his estate of Barbicaglia , where his remains have been interred . A mass for the deceased will be celebrated on Sunday next in the private chapel , where you are invited to attend . ' This quaint summons was being proclaimed on both banks of the Loire , between Mousseaux and Onzain , by mourners hired from Vafflard 's , wearing tall hats with crape mufflers that reached the ground , and ringing their heavy bells as they walked . Paul Astier , hearing the words as he came downstairs to the midday breakfast , felt his heart beat high with joy and pride . Four days ago the news of the Duke 's death had startled Mousseaux as the report of a gun startles a covey of partridges , and had unexpectedly dispersed and scattered the second instalment of guests to various seaside and holiday resorts . The Duchess had had to set off at once for Corsica , leaving at the castle only a few very intimate friends . The melancholy sound of the voices and moving bells , carried to Paul 's ear by a breeze from the river through the open panes of the staircase window , the antiquated and princely form of the funeral invitation , could not but invest the domain of Mousseaux with an impressive air of grandeur , which added to the height of its four towers and its immemorial trees .