four o'clock
Still under the strain of the emotions of the triumphal day , and to escape the disagreeable thought the sight of the radiant gardenias provoked in her , she began to write a long letter to the Countess Styvens . That soothed her nervousness a little . She poured out all her heart in the letter , for she knew that this woman loved her independently of the love of her son -- loved her entirely for her own self . Two days later Esperance received a letter from the Director of the Comedie-Française , asking her to call at four o'clock that same day at the theatre . At the right hour she went with her mother and Mlle. Frahender . Without delay she was at once engaged , for Madame Darbois had the spoken and written authority of her husband to make what arrangements her daughter should desire . The Director was most complimentary to the young actress and asked what rôle she would care to choose for her debut .