four in the afternoon
But that air of his , the air of one accustomed to immediate obedience , yet which could be very urbane and equally insolent , that air endured . In sitting back he looked at his son for whom he had no affection . For no human being had he ever had any affection , except for himself , and latterly even that unique love had waned . The chefs , originally retained on shifts of eight hours each , in order that this man might breakfast or sup whenever he so desired , that he might breakfast , as a gentleman may , at four in the afternoon , or sup at seven in the morning , these chefs were useless . His wife , who had died , not as one might suppose of a broken heart but of fatty degeneration , had succumbed to their delicately toxic surprises with groans but also with thanksgiving . That is ancient history . At present her widower supped on powdered charcoal and breakfasted on bismuth .