eight o’clock
At last Mr Marchurst finished and delivered a long address of thanks to Heaven for the good food they had enjoyed , which good food , being heavy and badly cooked , was warranted to give them all indigestion and turn their praying to cursing . In fact , what with strong tea , hurried meals , and no exercise , Mr Marchurst used to pass an awful time with the nightmare , and although he was accustomed to look upon nightmares as visions , they were due more to dyspepsia than inspiration . After dinner Madame sat and talked with Marchurst , but Kitty went outside into the warm darkness of the summer night , and tried to pierce the gloom to see if her lover was coming . She was rewarded , for M. Vandeloup came up about half-past eight o'clock , having met Pierre as arranged . Pierre had found out Villiers in his hiding-place , and was watching him while Villiers watched the house . Being , therefore , quite easy in his mind that things were going smoothly , Vandeloup came up to the porch where Kitty was eagerly waiting for him , and taking her in his arms kissed her tenderly . Then , after assuring himself that Madame was safe with Marchurst , he put his arm round Kitty 's waist , and they walked up and down the path with the warm wind blowing in their faces , and the perfume of the wattle blossoms permeating the drowsy air .