about eight o’clock in the evening
Added to this , Mr. Love took great pains to know the tradesmen in his neighbourhood ; and , what with his jokes , his appearance of easy circumstances , and the fluency with which he spoke the language , he became a universal favourite . Many persons who were uncommonly starched in general , and who professed to ridicule the bureau , saw nothing improper in dining at the table d'hote . To those who wished for secrecy he was said to be wonderfully discreet ; but there were others who did not affect to conceal their discontent at the single state : for the rest , the entertainments were so contrived as never to shock the delicacy , while they always forwarded the suit . It was about eight o'clock in the evening , and Mr. Love was still seated at dinner , or rather at dessert , with a party of guests . His apartments , though small , were somewhat gaudily painted and furnished , and his dining-room was decorated a la Turque . The party consisted -- first , of a rich epicier , a widower , Monsieur Goupille by name , an eminent man in the Faubourg ; he was in his grand climacteric , but still belhomme ; wore a very well-made peruque of light auburn , with tight pantaloons , which contained a pair of very respectable calves ; and his white neckcloth and his large frill were washed and got up with especial care . Next to Monsieur Goupille sat a very demure and very spare young lady of about two-and-thirty , who was said to have saved a fortune -- Heaven knows how -- in the family of a rich English milord , where she had officiated as governess ; she called herself Mademoiselle Adele de Courval , and was very particular about the de , and very melancholy about her ancestors .