midnight
Her only object now was to avenge herself on Athénais and humiliate the duke ; and the preparations for the wedding were carried on with incredible speed . Left ignorant of the ironmaster 's generous intentions , she attributed his ready deference to all her wishes to his ambition to become her husband , and even felt contempt for the readiness with which he had enacted his part in the humiliating comedy played before the duke , so thoroughly did she misjudge passionate , generous-hearted Philippe , whose only dream was to restore her happiness . Mlle , de Beaulieu arrived at two decisions which stupefied everybody . She wished the wedding to take place at midnight , without the least pomp , and only the members of the two families to be present . The marchioness raised her hands to heaven , and the marquis asked his sister if she were going mad , but Philippe declared these wishes seemed very proper to him , and so they were carried out . The marriage contract was signed on the eve of the great day . Claire remained ignorant of the fact that she was ruined , and signed quite unsuspectingly the act which endowed her with half M. Derblay 's fortune .