midnight
We wo n't invite them to dinner again -- they would devour one another . ' As soon as Claude and Christine reached the Place de la Trinite on their way home , the painter let go of his wife 's arm ; and , stammering that he had to go somewhere , he begged her to return to the Rue Tourlaque without him . She had felt him shuddering , and she remained quite scared with surprise and fear . Somewhere to go at that hour -- past midnight ! Where had he to go , and what for ? He had turned round and was making off , when she overtook him , and , pretending that she was frightened , begged that he would not leave her to climb up to Montmartre alone at that time of night . This consideration alone brought him back .