twelve o'clock
They are incapable of fulfilling the first duty of man -- to love and sustain their country , even though she be in the wrong . '' He said no more at the moment , but sat gravely down . `` Let us eat , '' he exclaimed , after some minutes of silence . `` It is striking twelve o'clock . Mother Grédel and Catharine , seat yourselves there . '' They sat down , and we began dinner . I thought of the words of Monsieur Goulden , which seemed right to me .