nine o’clock
Neither of the bridal pair could dance ; Veronique continued therefore to do the honors to her guests , and to win the esteem and good graces of nearly all the persons who were presented to her , asking Grossetete , who took an honest liking to her , for information about the company . She made no mistakes and committed no blunders . It was during this evening that the two former partners of the banker announced the amount of the dowry -LRB- immense for Limousin -RRB- given by the Sauviats to their daughter . At nine o'clock the old iron-dealer returned home and went to bed , leaving his wife to preside over the bride 's retiring . It was said by everyone throughout the town that Madame Graslin was very plain , though well made . Old Sauviat now wound up his business and sold his house in town . He bought a little country-place on the left bank of the Vienne between Limoges and Cluzeau , ten minutes ' walk from the suburb of Saint-Martial , where he intended to finish his days tranquilly with his wife .