midday
The _ citoyenne _ Gamelin had received the gift with heartfelt gratitude . Such dainties were scarce ever seen then ; victuals grew dearer every day . The people feared a famine ; the aristocrats , they said , wished it , and the `` corner '' makers were at work to bring it about . The _ citoyen _ Brotteaux , being invited to eat his share of the capon at the midday dinner , appeared in due course and congratulated his hostess on the rich aroma of cooking that assailed his nostrils . Indeed a noble smell of rich , savoury broth filled the painter 's studio . `` You are very obliging , sir , '' replied the good dame . `` To prepare the digestion for your capon , I have made a vegetable soup with a slice of fat bacon and a big beef bone .