three o'clock
There ca n't be a more pleasant promenade when the light falls ; and , come , I promise you a splendid sunset . '' He was so pressing that the young priest had to accept , quite subjugated by so much amiability and good humour . They spent another half-hour very pleasantly in chatting about Rome , Italy , and France . Then , for a moment , they went up into Frascati where the Count wished to say a few words to a contractor , and just as three o'clock was striking they started off , seated side by side on the soft cushions and gently rocked by the motion of the victoria as the two horses broke into a light trot . As Prada had predicted , that return to Rome across the bare Campagna under the vast limpid heavens at the close of such a mild autumn day proved most delightful . First of all , however , the victoria had to descend the slopes of Frascati between vineyards and olive-trees . The paved road snaked , and was but little frequented ; they merely saw a few peasants in old felt hats , a white mule , and a cart drawn by a donkey , for it is only upon Sundays that the / osterie / or wine-shops are filled and that artisans in easy circumstances come to eat a dish of kid at the surrounding / bastides / .