About ten
o'clock
So when Madame Renault pushed back her chair , in indication that the repast was finished , Fougas arose without difficulty , gracefully offered his arm , and conducted his partner to the parlor . His gait was a little stiff and oppressively regular , but he went straight ahead , and did not oscillate the least bit . He took a couple of cups of coffee , and spirits in moderation , after which he began to talk in the most reasonable manner in the world . About ten o'clock , M. Martout , having expressed a wish to hear his history , he placed himself on a stool , collected his ideas for a moment , and asked for a glass of water and sugar . The company seated themselves in a circle around him , and he commenced the following narrative , the slightly antiquated style of which craves your indulgence . `` Do not expect that I will ornament my story with those flowers , more agreeable than substantial , which Imagination often uses to gloss over truth . A Frenchman and a soldier , I doubly ignore deception .