about twelve o’clock
Philippe promised , in case he succeeded in obtaining over his uncle the power now exercised by Gilet , to indemnify Fario for his losses ; this bait made the Spaniard his henchman . Maxence was now face to face with a dangerous foe ; he had , as they say in those parts , some one to handle . Roused by much gossip and various rumors , the town of Issoudun expected a mortal combat between the two men , who , we must remark , mutually despised each other . One morning , toward the end of November , Philippe met Monsieur Hochon about twelve o'clock , in the long avenue of Frapesle , and said to him : -- `` I have discovered that your grandsons Baruch and Francois are the intimate friends of Maxence Gilet . The rascals are mixed up in all the pranks that are played about this town at night . It was through them that Maxence knew what was said in your house when my mother and brother were staying there . '' `` How did you get proof of such a monstrous thing ? ''