two in the
morning
Bosc had on more than one occasion assisted at domestic scenes , and at dessert , when Fontan slapped Nana , he went on chewing solemnly , for the thing struck him as being quite in the course of nature . In order to give some return for his dinner he used always to go into ecstasies over their happiness . He declared himself a philosopher who had given up everything , glory included . At times Prulliere and Fontan lolled back in their chairs , losing count of time in front of the empty table , while with theatrical gestures and intonation they discussed their former successes till two in the morning . But he would sit by , lost in thought , finishing the brandy bottle in silence and only occasionally emitting a little contemptuous sniff . Where was Talma 's tradition ? Nowhere .