summer noon
By-and-by Laurent set about his meal in a business-like fashion , and Paul strolled quietly from the room . The others , juge and garde and huissier and chemist , chief of gendarmerie , and all the rest of the regular frequenters of the table , were called away by their own avocations . Paul , sitting with his study-door ajar , looking as if prepared to be absorbed in labour at any moment , watched them as they went out by ones and twos , and knew that at last Laurent and Annette were together . The heat of summer noon was in the air . The _ place _ was empty , and there was everywhere a humming silence through which his ear discerned now and then the deeper hum of Laurent 's voice . Not a word was audible , or would have been even had Paul cared to play the eavesdropper , but one might have thought that the doctor was preaching a sermon . ` He 's a wise old man , is Laurent , ' said Paul to himself , ` and , for a bachelor , he seems to have an uncommon good knowledge of women .