eight in the evening before
`` Do n't say so , Father Jerome , '' said Jacques , `` pray do n't say so , Jean and Peter would die were they not to be of the party at Saumur ; but Michael is so passionate and so headstrong , and he swears they shall not go . Now go they will , and therefore I supplicate that my word may be taken , and that I may be saved the dishonour of hearing the names of my friends read out aloud with those of men who will disgrace their parish and their country . '' The request of Jacques was granted , and the names of Jean and Peter Stein were erased from the top of the black list . It was eight in the evening before the recruiting party had finished their work , and it was not yet noon when they rode into the little village . Henri and the Curé got their supper and slept at the Mayor 's house , and even there they were not allowed to be quiet ; some of those who were to be at Saumur , were continually calling for new instructions ; one wanted to know what arms he was to carry , another what provisions he was to bring , a third was anxious to be a corporal , and a fourth and fifth begged that they might not be separated , as one was going to marry the sister of the other . None of these were turned away unanswered ; the door of the Mayor 's house was not closed for a moment , and Henri , to be enabled to eat his supper at all , was obliged to give his last military orders with a crust of bread in his hand , and his mouth full of meat . As might be supposed , Jacques spent the evening with Annot Stein , at least it was his intention to have done so ; but he had been so leading a person in the day 's transactions that he also was besieged by the villagers , and was hardly able to whisper a word into his sweetheart 's ear .