He dined in the little room as of yore, but alone, without the tax-gatherer; for Binet, tired of waiting for the "Hirondelle," had definitely put forward his meal one hour, and now he dined punctually at five, and yet he declared usually the rickety old concern "was late."
Il dîna dans la petite salle, comme autrefois, mais seul, sans le percepteur; car Binet, fatigué d’attendre l’Hirondelle, avait définitivement avancé son repas d’une heure, et, maintenant, il dînait à cinq heures juste, encore prétendait-il le plus souvent que la vieille patraque retardait.