nearly three
o’clock
The matter was becoming serious , and it seemed to him that he ought not to carry the inquiry any further without the father 's authorization . That same day , then , before returning to Chantebled , he repaired to the factory , where he was lucky enough to find Beauchene , whom Blaise 's absence on business had detained there by force . Thus he was in a very bad humor , puffing and yawning and half asleep . It was nearly three o'clock , and he declared that he could never digest his lunch properly unless he went out afterwards . The truth was that since his rupture with his wife he had been devoting his afternoons to paying attentions to a girl serving at a beer-house . `` Ah ! my good fellow , '' he muttered as he stretched himself .