3 o'clock
For by his own showing he was utterly ignorant of my ever having offended this Mr. Beamish , of whom I recollected nothing whatever . Yet when the gentleman waxes wrothy , rather than inconvenience him , or perhaps anxious to get back to the mess , he coolly says , `` Oh , my friend shall meet you , '' and then his pleasant jest , `` find out the cause of quarrel from his executors ! '' Truly , thought I , there is no equanimity like his who acts as your second in a duel . The gentlemanlike urbanity with which he waits on the opposite friend -- the conciliating tone with which he proffers implacable enmity -- the killing kindness with which he refuses all accommodation -- the Talleyrand air of his short notes , dated from the `` Travellers , '' or `` Brookes , '' with the words 3 o'clock or 5 o'clock on the cover , all indicative of the friendly precipitancy of the negociation . Then , when all is settled , the social style with which he asks you to take a `` cutlet '' with him at the `` Clarendon , '' not to go home -- are only to be equalled by the admirable tact on the ground -- the studiously elegant salute to the adverse party , half a la Napoleon , and half Beau Brummell -- the politely offered snuff-box -- the coquetting raillery about 10 paces or 12 -- are certainly the beau ideal of the stoicism which preludes sending your friend out of the world like a gentleman . How very often is the face of external nature at variance with the thoughts and actions -- `` the sayings and doings '' we may be most intent upon at the moment . How many a gay and brilliant bridal party has wended its way to St. George 's , Hanover-square , amid a downpour of rain , one would suppose sufficient to quench the torch of Hymen , though it burned as brightly as Capt. Drummond 's oxygen light ; and on the other hand , how frequently are the bluest azure of heaven and the most balmy airs shed upon the heart bursting with affliction , or the head bowed with grief ; and without any desire to impugn , as a much high authority has done , the moral character of the moon , how many a scene of blood and rapine has its mild radiance illumined .