nearly five o’clock
He forgot his sisters and the aunt who had robbed herself for him ; he no longer remembered his own virtuous scruples . He had seen hovering above his head the fiend so easy to mistake for an angel , the Devil with rainbow wings , who scatters rubies , and aims his golden shafts at palace fronts , who invests women with purple , and thrones with a glory that dazzles the eyes of fools till they forget the simple origins of royal dominion ; he had heard the rustle of that Vanity whose tinsel seems to us to be the symbol of power . However cynical Vautrin 's words had been , they had made an impression on his mind , as the sordid features of the old crone who whispers , `` A lover , and gold in torrents , '' remain engraven on a young girl 's memory . Eugene lounged about the walks till it was nearly five o'clock , then he went to Mme. de Beauseant , and received one of the terrible blows against which young hearts are defenceless . Hitherto the Vicomtesse had received him with the kindly urbanity , the bland grace of manner that is the result of fine breeding , but is only complete when it comes from the heart . To-day Mme. de Beauseant bowed constrainedly , and spoke curtly : `` M. de Rastignac , I can not possibly see you , at least not at this moment . I am engaged ... '' An observer , and Rastignac instantly became an observer , could read the whole history , the character and customs of caste , in the phrase , in the tones of her voice , in her glance and bearing .