two o’clock in the morning
If a man mistakes his vocation , the false start none the less influences him for the rest of his life . Godefroid was so evidently smitten with Mlle. Isaure d'Aldrigger , that Rastignac went off to a tall girl chatting in the card-room . -- ` Malvina , ' he said , lowering his voice , ` your sister has just netted a fish worth eighteen thousand francs a year . He has a name , a manner , and a certain position in the world ; keep an eye on them ; be careful to gain Isaure 's confidence ; and if they philander , do not let her send word to him unless you have seen it first -- ' `` Towards two o'clock in the morning , Isaure was standing beside a diminutive Shepherdess of the Alps , a little woman of forty , coquettish as a Zerlina . A footman announced that ` Mme. la Baronne 's carriage stops the way , ' and Godefroid forthwith saw his beautiful maiden out of a German song draw her fantastical mother into the cloakroom , whither Malvina followed them ; and -LRB- boy that he was -RRB- he must needs go to discover into what pot of preserves the infant Joby had fallen , and had the pleasure of watching Isaure and Malvina coaxing that sparkling person , their mamma , into her pelisse , with all the little tender precautions required for a night journey in Paris . Of course , the girls on their side watched Beaudenord out of the corners of their eyes , as well-taught kittens watch a mouse , without seeming to see it at all . With a certain satisfaction Beaudenord noted the bearing , manner , and appearance , of the tall well-gloved Alsacien servant in livery who brought three pairs of fur-lined overshoes for his mistresses .