three o'clock
But I saw Weiss , her husband , this morning . He was with Monsieur Delaherche , his boss , who had come over in his carriage to see the soldiers at Mouzon -- which is the same as saying that they were out for a good time . '' An expression of intense scorn flitted over the old peasant 's impenetrable face . `` Perhaps they saw more of the army than they wanted to , and did n't have such a very good time after all , for ever since three o'clock the roads have been impassable on account of the crowds of flying soldiers . '' In the same unmoved voice , as if the matter were one of perfect indifference to him , he gave them some tidings of the defeat of the 5th corps , that had been surprised at Beaumont while the men were making their soup and chased by the Bavarians all the way to Mouzon . Some fugitives who had passed through Remilly , mad with terror , had told him that they had been betrayed once more and that de Failly had sold them to Bismarck . Maurice 's thoughts reverted to the aimless , blundering movements of the last two days , to Marshal MacMahon hurrying on their retreat and insisting on getting them across the Meuse at every cost , after wasting so many precious hours in incomprehensible delays .