two o'clock in the
afternoon
You would think it was left for the special accommodation of rats ! And when the glowing autumn sun , red as fire , showers golden rain upon the decaying walls and timbers ; when , as daylight fades into evening , the angular projections stand out more boldly , and the shadows deepen ; when all the tavern rings with songs , and shouts , and roars of laughter ; when fat Sébaldus , in leathern apron , runs to and from the cellar with the big jug in his hand ; when his wife Gredel throws up the kitchen window , and with her long knife , well hacked along the edge , cleans the fish , or cuts the necks of hens , ducks , or geese which struggle and gurgle in their own blood ; when pretty Fridoline , with her rosy little mouth and her long fair hair , leans out of her window to tend the honeysuckle , and over her head the neighbour 's tabby cat is gently swaying her tail and watching , with her cunning green eyes , the swallow circling in the deepening purple -- I do assure you that a man must be utterly devoid of taste for the picturesque not to stop and contemplate in ecstasy and listen to the murmuring sounds , or the louder din , or the falling whispers , and observe with an artist 's eye the trembling lights , the flying shadows , and whisper to himself , `` Is not this beautiful ? '' But you should see Maître Sébaldus 's tavern on a great occasion , when all the jovial folks of Bergzabern crowd into the immense public room -- some day when a cock-fight is going on , or a dog-fight , or a magic-lantern . Last autumn , on a Saturday -- and it was Michaelmas Day -- we were all sitting round the oaken table , between one and two o'clock in the afternoon ; old Doctor Melchior , Eisenloffel the blacksmith , and his old wife , old Berbel Rasimus , Johannes the capuchin monk , Borves Fritz the clarionet-player at the Pied de Boeuf , and half a hundred more , laughing , singing , drinking , playing at _ youker _ , draining jugs and glasses , eating puddings and _ andouilles _ . Mother Gredel was coming and going ; the pretty maid-servants , Heinrichen and Lotté , were flying up and down the kitchen stairs like squirrels , and outside , under the broad archway , was the booming , and banging , and jingling of the big drum and the cymbals , while the exciting proclamation was being made : `` Ho ! ho ! hi !