ten o'clock
Let them retain for us sentiments of affection . And may our common origin , descent , language , and customs perpetuate the friendship ! '' `` No sun upon an Easter day Is half so fine a sight . '' It was ten o'clock when I reached Monsieur Marbois 's house and found my aunt anxiously awaiting me . I had to explain the lateness of my return and the bespattered condition of my garments by telling her I had lost my way in the Boulogne woods -LRB- which was true , for in those winding roads Fatima did for a time go astray -RRB- , and such was her horror at the thought of the perils to which I had been exposed in that forest of evil repute that she questioned me not at all about my visit to St. Cloud , for which I was devoutly thankful . She had expected that my uncle would be detained all night , so that I had no explanations to make in his behalf . The dinner-hour was long past , but she insisted on having a hot supper prepared for me , and though my conscience assured me I deserved to go to bed hungry , the little fillet of beef with mushrooms , flanked by an omelet _ au gratin _ , which Jacques , my aunt 's accomplished chef , sent up to my room piping hot , with a glass of fine old Burgundy , tasted a little better to me than I ever remembered anything to have tasted before .