two in the morning
It would need the pencil of an Ingres to render the pride of that brow , with its wealth of hair , the dignity of that glance , and the thoughts betrayed by the changing colors of her cheeks . In her were all things ; poets could have found an Agnes Sorel and a Joan of Arc , also the woman unknown , the Soul within that form , the soul of Eve , the knowledge of the treasures of good and the riches of evil , error and resignation , crime and devotion , the Donna Julia and the Haidee of Lord Byron . The former guardsman stayed , with apparent impertinence , after the other guests had left the salons ; and Madame Firmiani found him sitting quietly before her in an armchair , evidently determined to remain , with the pertinacity of a fly which we are forced to kill to get rid of it . The hands of the clock marked two in the morning . `` Madame , '' said the old gentlemen , as Madame Firmiani rose , hoping to make him understand that it was her good pleasure he should go , `` Madame , I am the uncle of Monsieur Octave de Camps . '' Madame Firmiani immediately sat down again , and showed her emotion . In spite of his sagacity the old Planter was unable to decide whether she turned pale from shame or pleasure .