four o’clock
That precious thirty minutes thus employed served to shorten by just so much the day 's labor . At this hour the over-heated rooms cool off ; the peculiar odor that hangs about the bureaus evaporates ; silence is restored . By four o'clock none but a few clerks who do their duty conscientiously remain . A minister may know who are the real workers under him if he will take the trouble to walk through the divisions after four o'clock , -- a species of prying , however , that no one of his dignity would condescend to . The various heads of divisions and bureaus usually encountered each other in the courtyards at this hour and exchanged opinions on the events of the day . On this occasion they departed by twos and threes , most of them agreeing in favor of Rabourdin ; while the old stagers , like Monsieur Clergeot , shook their heads and said , `` Habent sua sidera lites . '' Saillard and Baudoyer were politely avoided , for nobody knew what to say to them about La Billardiere 's death , it being fully understood that Baudoyer wanted the place , though it was certainly not due to him .