two o'clock in the
morning
My standard of morality is an indulgent one , and I shall give you absolution for everything , without my absolution being of much value to you , however . But if you wish to confide to me some weighty secret , as to your best friend , begin by all means ; I am ready to listen to you . '' `` What I am about to confess to you is a very serious fault of which I have been guilty ; and I am ashamed to -- '' `` You have no need to be ashamed before your father ; speak frankly . '' Here Don Luis , growing very red , and with visible confusion , said : `` My secret is , that I am in love with -- Pepita Ximenez -- and that she -- '' Don Pedro interrupted his son with a burst of laughter , and finished the sentence for him : `` And that she is in love with you , and that on the night of St. John 's eve you were with her in tender conference until two o'clock in the morning , and that , for her sake , you sought a quarrel with the Count of Genazahar , whose head you have broken . A pretty secret you confide to me , truly ! There is n't a cat or a dog in the village that is not fully acquainted with every detail of the business . The only thing there seemed a possibility of being able to conceal was , that your interview lasted until just two o'clock in the morning ; but some gypsy cake-women chanced to see you leave Pepita 's house , and did not stop until they had told every living creature in the place of it .