two o’clock
In the conversation which followed , the two old bachelors Schmucke and Pons extolled the estate of matrimony , going so far as to say , without any malicious intent , `` that marriage was the end of man . '' Tea and ices , punches and cakes , were served in the future home of the betrothed couple . The wine had begun to tell upon the honest merchants , and the general hilarity reached its height when it was announced that Schwab 's partner thought of following his example . At two o'clock that morning , Schmucke and Pons walked home along the boulevards , philosophizing _ a perte de raison _ as they went on the harmony pervading the arrangements of this our world below . On the morrow of the banquet , Cousin Pons betook himself to his fair cousin the Presidente , overjoyed -- poor dear noble soul ! -- to return good for evil . Surely he had attained to a sublime height , as every one will allow , for we live in an age when the Montyon prize is given to those who do their duty by carrying out the precepts of the Gospel .