Piping Hot! by Émile Zola

THEN, Octave found himself brought into closer contact with the Duveyriers. Often, when Madame Duveyrier returned from a walk, she would come through her brother's shop, and stop to talk a minute with Berthe; and, the first time that she saw the young man behind one of the counters, she amiably reproached him for not keeping his word, reminding him of his long-standing promise to come and see her one evening, and try his voice at the piano. She wished to give a second performance of the "Benediction of the Daggers," at one of her first Saturdays at home of the coming winter, but with two extra tenors, something very complete.

"If it does not interfere with your arrangements," said Berthe one day to Octave, "you might go up to my sister-in-law's after dinner. She is expecting you."