midnight
When five venerable bottles which he presently brought back with him appeared on the table , the wife brought in the rest of the supper . She gave to the dishes and to the room generally the glance of a mistress , and then , sure of having attended to all the wants of the travellers , she returned to the kitchen . The four men , for the landlord was invited to drink , did not hear her go to bed , but later , during the intervals of silence which came into their talk , certain strongly accentuated snores , made the more sonorous by the thin planks of the loft in which she had ensconced herself , made the guests laugh and also the husband . Towards midnight , when nothing remained on the table but biscuits , cheese , dried fruit , and good wine , the guests , chiefly the young Frenchmen , became communicative . The latter talked of their homes , their studies , and of the war . The conversation grew lively . Prosper Magnan brought a few tears to the merchant 's eyes , when with the frankness and naivete of a good and tender nature , he talked of what his mother must be doing at that hour , while he was sitting drinking on the banks of the Rhine .