about three o’clock
The little flat in the Rue de La Boetie seemed very bright and fragrant ; it was perfumed by the fair grace of Andree and illumined by the victorious charm of Ambroise , that handsome loving couple who , arm in arm , had set out so bravely to conquer the world . During the lunch , too , there was the formidable appetite and jovial laughter of Beauchene , who gave the greatest attention to his _ commere _ Valentine , jesting and paying her the most extravagant court , which afforded her much amusement , prone as she still was to play a girlish part , though she was already forty-five and a grandmother like Marianne . Constance alone remained grave , scarce condescending to bend her thin lips into a faint smile , while a shadow of deep pain passed over her withered face every time that she glanced round that gay table , whence new strength , based on the invincible future , arose in spite of all the recent mourning . At about three o'clock Blaise rose from the table , refusing to allow Beauchene to take any more Chartreuse . `` It 's true , he is right , my children , '' Beauchene ended by exclaiming in a docile way . `` We are very comfortable here , but it is absolutely necessary that we should return to the works . And we must deprive you of Denis , for we need his help over a big building affair .