two o'clock in the afternoon
Between the breaks in the shipping one could see the sea-gulls fishing and the harbour flashing , here spangled with coal tar , here whipped to deepest sapphire by the mistral ; the junk shops , grog shops , parrot shops , rope-walks , ships ' stores and factories lining the quays , each lending a perfume , a voice , or a scrap of colour to the air vibrating with light , vibrating with sound , shot through with voices ; hammer blows from the copper sheathers in the dry docks , the rolling of drums from Port St. Nicholas , the roaring of grain elevators , rattling of winch-chains , trumpeting of ship sirens , mewing of gulls , the bells of Notre Dame and the bells of St. Victor , all fused , orchestrated , into one triumphant symphony beneath the clear blue sky and the trade flags of the world . _ La Joconde _ was berthed beside a Messagerie boat which they had to cross to reach her . She was a palatial cruising yacht of twelve hundred tons ' burden , built somewhat on the lines of Drexel 's _ La Margharita _ , but with less width of funnel . It was two o'clock in the afternoon when they went on board ; all the luggage had arrived , steam was up , the port arrangements had been made , and Berselius determined to start at once . Maxine kissed him , then she turned to Adams . '' _ Bon voyage . _ '' `` Good-bye , '' said Adams .