nine o'clock
Ah , sometimes I fear , Robert , that when all is over , and you are free , and you see what the world and all this playing at hide-and-seek have made me , you will feel that such as Georgette , who have never looked inside the hearts of wicked people , and read the tales therein for knowledge to defeat wickedness -- that such as she were better fitted for your life and love . No , no , please do not take my hand -- not till you have heard all I am going to tell . '' She continued quietly ; yet her eye flashed out now and then , and now and then , also , something in her thoughts as to how she , a weak , powerless girl , had got her ends against astute evil men , sent a little laugh to her lips ; for she had by nature as merry a heart as serious . `` At nine o'clock we came to the Chateau St. Louis from Ste. Anne Street , where our winter home is -- yet how much do I prefer the Manor House ! There were not many guests to supper , and Monsieur Doltaire was not among them . I affected a genial surprise , and asked the Governor if one of the two vacant chairs at the table was for monsieur ; and looking a little as though he would reprove me -- for he does not like to think of me as interested in monsieur -- he said it was , but that monsieur was somewhere out of town , and there was no surety that he would come . The other chair was for the Chevalier de la Darante , one of the oldest and best of our nobility , who pretends great roughness and barbarism , but is a kind and honourable gentleman , though odd .