half past ten
`` You may as well join them in their exercises . In that way you will sooner become at home with them . '' Gervaise at once laid down his mantle , removed his doublet , and then joined the others . There was but one half hour remaining before they broke off to go to dinner , which was at half past ten , but the time sufficed to show the young pages that this English lad was the equal of all -- except two or three of the oldest -- both in strength and in knowledge of arms . He could climb the rope with any of them , could vault on to the wooden horse with a heavy cuirass and backpiece on him , and held his own in a bout with swords against Conrad von Berghoff , who was considered the best swordplayer among them . As soon as the exercises were over all proceeded to the bath , and then to dinner . The meal was a simple one , but Gervaise enjoyed it thoroughly , for the table was loaded with an abundance of fruits of kinds altogether novel to him , and which he found delicious .