Nine o'clock
He heard the sound of Absalom coughing a note of summons . Grandemont stirred . This time he had not been asleep -- only drowsing . `` Nine o'clock , _ M'shi Grande _ , '' said Absalom in the uninflected voice of a good servant who states a fact unqualified by personal opinion . Grandemont rose to his feet . In their time all the Charleses had been proven , and they were gallant losers . `` Serve dinner , '' he said calmly .