one o’clock
By thus mingling mildness and severity , hopes and rebuffs , the clever egoist kept his three slaves faithful and close at his heels , like dogs . Taking the upper-road , so-called , to avoid the Close of the Cross , Rigou reached the square of Soulanges about eight o'clock . Just as he was fastening his rein to the post nearest the little door with three steps , a blind opened and Soudry showed his face , pitted with the small-pox , which the expression of his small black eyes rendered crafty . `` Let 's begin by taking a crust here before we start , '' he said ; `` we sha 'n' t get breakfast at Ville-aux-Fayes before one o'clock . '' Then he softly called a servant-girl , as young and pretty as Annette , who came down noiselessly , and received his order for ham and bread ; after which he went himself to the cellar and fetched some wine . Rigou contemplated for the hundredth time the well-known dining-room , floored in oak , with stuccoed ceiling and cornice , its high wainscot and handsome cupboards finely painted , its porcelain stone and magnificent tall clock , -- all the property of Mademoiselle Laguerre . The chair-backs were in the form of lyres , painted white and highly varnished ; the seats were of green morocco with gilt nails .