eight in the morning
There was a menacing look in Arthur 's eyes which Frank did not like , and he retreated from the room , resolved to say no more to him of Gretchen , whose arrival he again began to look for and dread . But Gretchen did not come , or any tidings of her , and Christmas came and went , and the lovely bracelets which Arthur brought from the trunk he said was hers , and into which no one had ever looked but himself , remained unclaimed upon his table , as did the costly inlaid work-box , and the cut-glass bottles with the gold stoppers . All these were to have been Gretchen 's Christmas presents ; but when she did not come they disappeared from view and were not seen again , while Arthur seemed to be settling into a state of great depression , caring nothing for the outside world , but spending all his time in the lovely rooms he had prepared for himself and one who never came . As far as was possible he continued his foreign habits , having his coffee and rolls at eight in the morning , his breakfast , as he called it , at half-past twelve , and his dinner at half-past six . All these meals were served in his room as elaborately , and with as much ceremony , as if lords and ladies sat at the table instead of one lone man , who never let himself down a particle , but required the utmost subservience and care in the waiting . The finest of linen , and china , and glass , and silver adorned his table , with bits of fanciful crockery gathered here and there in his extended wanderings , and always flowers for a centre-piece -- roses mostly , if he could get them -- tea roses and Marshal Neils , for Gretchen , he said , was fond of these , and , as she might surprise him at any moment , he wished to be ready for her , and show that he was expecting her . Opposite him , at the end of the table , was always an empty plate with its surroundings , and the curiously-carved chair , which had seen the lion at Lucerne .