three o’clock
All the demonstrative friendliness of mother and daughter was lined with a formidable longing for revenge , evidently postponed . For the first time in Amelie de Marville 's life she had been put in the wrong , and that in the sight of the husband over whom she tyrannized ; and not only so -- she was obliged to be amiable to the author of her defeat ! You can scarcely find a match for this position save in the hypocritical dramas which are sometimes kept up for years in the sacred college of cardinals , or in chapters of certain religious orders . At three o'clock , when the President came back from the law-courts , Pons had scarcely made an end of the marvelous history of his acquaintance , M. Frederic Brunner . Cecile had gone straight to the point . She wanted to know how Frederic Brunner was dressed , how he looked , his height and figure , the color of his hair and eyes ; and when she had conjectured a distinguished air for Frederic , she admired his generosity of character . `` Think of his giving five hundred thousand francs to his companion in misfortune !