about three o'clock
I kept in my own room to write a novel -- which I never finished . `` The most regular frequenters of the shop were Monsieur Montina , a man of good private means , a tall , handsome man , like one meets with in the South of France , with an olive skin , and dark , expressive eyes ; Monsieur Barbet , a magistrate ; two merchants , who were partners , Messrs. Faucil and Labarrègue , and General , the Marquis de la Flèche , the head of the Royalist party , the principal man in the whole district , an old fellow of sixty-six . `` My business prospered , and I was happy , very happy . One day , however , about three o'clock , when I was out on business , as I was going through the _ Rue Saint Ferréol _ , I suddenly saw a woman come out of a house , whose figure and appearance were so much like my wife 's that I should have said to myself : ` There she is ! ' if I had not left her in the shop half an hour before , suffering from a headache . She was walking quickly on before me , without turning round , and , in spite of myself , I followed her , as I felt surprised and uneasy . I said to myself : ` It it she ; no , it is quite impossible , as she has a sick headache .