about five o'clock
While matters were in this condition at one end of the house Delaherche , who was never contented unless occupied , was bustling about and making attempts to start up his business once more , but what with the disordered condition of the labor market and the pecuniary embarrassment of many among his customers , he had so far only put a few looms in motion . Then it occurred to him , as a means of killing the time that hung heavy on his hands , to make a complete inventory of his business and perfect certain changes and improvements that he had long had in mind . To assist him in his labors he had just then at his disposal a young man , the son of an old business acquaintance , who had drifted in on him after the battle . Edmond Lagarde , who , although he was twenty-three years old , would not have been taken for more than eighteen , had grown to man 's estate in his father 's little dry-goods shop at Passy ; he was a sergeant in the 5th line regiment and had fought with great bravery throughout the campaign , so much so that he had been knocked over near the Minil gate about five o'clock , when the battle was virtually ended , his left arm shattered by one of the last shots fired that day , and Delaherche , when the other wounded were removed from the improvised ambulance in the drying room , had good-naturedly received him as an inmate of his house . It was under these circumstances that Edmond was now one of the family , having an apartment in the house and taking his meals at the common table , and , now that his wound was healed , acting as a sort of secretary to the manufacturer while waiting for a chance to get back to Paris . He had signed a parole binding himself not to attempt to leave the city , and owing to this and to his protector 's influence the Prussian authorities did not interfere with him . He was fair , with blue eyes , and pretty as a woman ; so timid withal that his face assumed a beautiful hue of rosy red whenever anyone spoke to him .