nearly noon
And still farther away there was a female idiot who had made her entry leaning on two relatives , and with expressionless eyes and lifeless features was now carrying her food to her mouth with a spoon , and slobbering over her napkin . Perhaps there were yet other ailing ones present who could not be distinguished among all those noisy appetites , ailing ones whom the journey had braced , and who were eating as they had not eaten for a long time past . The apricot tarts , the cheese , the fruits were all engulfed amidst the increasing disorder of the table , where at last there only remained the stains of all the wine and sauce which had been spilt upon the cloth . It was nearly noon . `` We will go back to the Grotto at once , eh ? '' said M. Vigneron . Indeed , `` To the Grotto !