one o'clock in
the morning
His cousin 's point-blank declaration that Faustina and Gouache were in love was startling to all his ideas and prejudices . He had seen Gouache kiss Corona 's hand in a corner of the drawing-room , a proceeding which he did not wholly approve , though it was common enough . Then Gouache and Faustina had disappeared . Then Faustina had been found , and to facilitate the finding it had been necessary that Corona and Gouache should leave the palace together at one o'clock in the morning . Finally , Corona had appealed to his confidence in her and had taken advantage of it to refuse any present explanation whatever of her proceedings . Corona was a very noble and true woman , and he had promised to trust her . How far he kept his word will appear hereafter .