ten o'clock
He had finished his toilet , and , hat on head , glanced at himself in the glass to see if he had neglected anything . Finding nothing , he came up to the bed and kissed his wife on the forehead , saying : `` Good-bye , dear , I shall not be in before seven o'clock at the earliest . '' And he went out . Monsieur Laroche-Mathieu was awaiting him , for he was lunching at ten o'clock that morning , the Council having to meet at noon , before the opening of Parliament . As soon as they were seated at table alone with the minister 's private secretary , for Madame Laroche-Mathieu had been unwilling to change her own meal times , Du Roy spoke of his article , sketched out the line he proposed to take , consulting notes scribbled on visiting cards , and when he had finished , said : `` Is there anything you think should be modified , my dear minister ? '' `` Very little , my dear fellow . You are perhaps a trifle too strongly affirmative as regards the Morocco business .