four
o'clock
What more could be desired by a Frenchman , a soldier , and a gentleman ? The duke wrote with his own hand to the poor widow . If anything could console a wife for the death of her husband , it would doubtless be such a letter ; but poor Clarice thought but of one thing , that she had no longer a husband , and that her child had no longer a father . At four o'clock Buvat came in from the library ; they told him that Clarice wanted him , and he went down directly . The poor woman did not cry , she did not complain ; she stood tearless and speechless , her eyes fixed and hollow as those of a maniac . When Buvat entered , she did not even turn her head toward him , but merely holding out her hand , she presented him the letter . Buvat looked right and left to endeavor to find out what was the matter , but seeing nothing to direct his conjectures , he looked at the paper and read aloud : `` MADAME -- Your husband has died for France and for me .