twelve o’clock
But as he repeated to himself all the insults Charles had heaped upon him , his good-natured heart hardened ; and the next morning he took his place in silence , after a cold `` Good-morning . '' Although he arrived a whole hour earlier than usual , he could see that Charles had been working long and industriously . There they sat , each on his side of the desk ; they spoke only the most indispensable words ; now and then a paper passed from hand to hand , but they never looked each other in the face . In this way they both worked -- each more busily than the other -- until twelve o'clock , their usual luncheon-time . This hour of déjeûner was the favorite time of both . Their custom was to have it served in their office , and when the old house-keeper announced that lunch was ready , they would both rise at once , even if they were in the midst of a sentence or of an account . They used to eat standing by the fireplace or walking up and down in the warm , comfortable office .