six o’clock
Since the coolness of the morning , the heat of all the human bodies , the odour of all the breath exhaled there had made the atmosphere heavy , and the dust of the floors , flying about , rose up in a fine mist . People still took each other to see certain pictures , the subjects of which alone struck and attracted the crowd . Some went off , came back , and walked about unceasingly . The women were particularly obstinate in not retiring ; they seemed determined to remain there till the attendants should push them out when six o'clock began to strike . Some fat ladies had foundered . Others , who had failed to find even the tiniest place to sit down , leaned heavily on their parasols , sinking , but still obstinate . Every eye was turned anxiously and supplicatingly towards the settees laden with people .