five o’clock
In other lands , in the delightful isles of Oceania , in the old , lifeless quarters of Stamboul , it seemed as if mere words could never express all I felt , and I struggled vainly against my own inability to render , in human language , the penetrating charm surrounding me . Here , on the contrary , words exact and truthful in themselves seem always too thrilling , too great for the subject ; seem to embellish it unduly . I feel as if I were acting , for my own benefit , some wretchedly trivial and third-rate comedy ; and whenever I try to consider my home in a serious spirit , the scoffing figure of M. Kangourou rises before me -- the matrimonial agent , to whom I am indebted for my happiness . July 12th Yves visits us whenever he is free , in the evening at five o'clock , after his duties on board are fulfilled . He is our only European visitor , and , with the exception of a few civilities and cups of tea , exchanged with our neighbors , we lead a very retired life . Only in the evenings , winding our way through the steep , narrow streets and carrying our lanterns at the end of short sticks , we go down to Nagasaki in search of amusement at the theatres , at the tea-houses , or in the bazaars . Yves treats my wife as if she were a plaything , and continually assures me that she is charming .