eleven o'clock
They asked themselves what impression it would cause in the district , what would become of their library , their papers , their collections . The thought of death made them feel tenderly about themselves . However , they did not abandon their project , and by dint of talking about it they grew accustomed to the idea . On the evening of the 24th of December , between ten and eleven o'clock , they sat thinking in the museum , both differently attired . Bouvard wore a blouse over his knitted waistcoat , and Pécuchet , through economy , had not left off his monk 's habit for the past three months . As they were very hungry -LRB- for Marcel , having gone out at daybreak , had not reappeared -RRB- , Bouvard thought it would be a healthful thing for him to drink a quart bottle of brandy , and for Pécuchet to take some tea . While he was lifting up the kettle he spilled some water on the floor .