six o'clock
Her dress , that closely sheathed the low , flat curves of her body and that left her slender arms and neck bare , was one shimmer of black scales , iridescent , undulating with light to her every movement . In the coils and masses of her black hair she fixed her two great cabochons of pearls , and clasped about her neck her palm-broad collaret of pearls and diamonds . Against one shoulder nodded a bunch of Jacqueminots , royal red , imperial . It was hard upon six o'clock when at last she dismissed her maid . Left alone , she stood for a moment in front of her long mirror that reflected her image from head to foot , and at the sight she could not forbear a smile and a sudden proud lifting of her head . All the woman in her preened and plumed herself in the consciousness of the power of her beauty . Let the Battle of the Street clamour never so loudly now , let the suction of the Pit be never so strong , Eve triumphed .