noon
As the king of modern fine gentlemen said to himself , in paraphrase of Voltaire , `` They had letters in their pockets addressed to Posterity , -- which the chances were , however , that they might forget to deliver . '' Somewhat `` priggish '' most of them might be ; but , on the whole , they were far more interesting than mere idle men of pleasure . There was about them , as features of a general family likeness , a redundant activity of life , a gay exuberance of ambition , a light-hearted earnestness when at work , a schoolboy 's enjoyment of the hours of play . A great contrast to these young men was Sir Sedley Beaudesert , who was pointedly kind to me , and whose bachelor 's house was always open to me after noon : Sir Sedley was visible to no one but his valet before that hour . A perfect bachelor 's house it was , too , with its windows opening on the Park , and sofas nicked into the windows , on which you might loll at your ease , like the philosopher in Lucretius , -- `` Despicere unde queas alios , passimque videre Errare , '' -- and see the gay crowds ride to and fro Rotten Row , without the fatigue of joining them , especially if the wind was in the east . There was no affectation of costliness about the rooms , but a wonderful accumulation of comfort . Every patent chair that proffered a variety in the art of lounging found its place there ; and near every chair a little table , on which you might deposit your book or your coffee-cup , without the trouble of moving more than your hand .