noon
Monsieur le Marechal had no particular good news , evidently , for in terms quite without enthusiasm he invited the young man to luncheon for that same day , rather early , at midday , as he wished to see him once more before he left for France . `` I see , '' said Rouletabille to himself ; `` Monsieur le Marechal pronounces my expulsion from the country '' -- and he forgot once more the Gounsovski luncheon . The meeting-place named was the great restaurant called the Bear . Rouletabille entered it promptly at noon . He asked the schwitzar if the Grand Marshal of the Court had arrived , and was told no one had seen him yet . They conducted him to the huge main hall , where , however , there was only one person . This man , standing before the table spread with zakouskis , was stuffing himself .