four o’clock
She soon lost all clear perception of things ; she fell into a state of utter neglect , going about in a dressing jacket and dirty petticoats , devoid of all coquettish feeling , discouraged by the idea that it was useless for her to continue struggling , since she had become old . There were occasionally abominable scenes between her and Claude , who this time , however , obstinately stuck to his work and finished his picture , swearing that , come what might , he would send it to the Salon . He lived on his steps , cleaning up his backgrounds until dark . At last , thoroughly exhausted , he declared that he would touch the canvas no more ; and Sandoz , on coming to see him one day , at four o'clock , did not find him at home . Christine declared that he had just gone out to take a breath of air on the height of Montmartre . The breach between Claude and his old friends had gradually widened . With time the latters ' visits had become brief and far between , for they felt uncomfortable when they found themselves face to face with that disturbing style of painting ; and they were more and more upset by the unhinging of a mind which had been the admiration of their youth .