about ten o'clock
M. de Gartlauben rose , and with much tact presently withdrew , but on repeating his visit the following evening and finding Gilberte there again , he settled himself in his usual seat in the chimney-corner . It was the commencement of a succession of delightful evenings that they passed together in the study of the master of the house , not in the drawing-room -- wherein lay a nice distinction . And at a later period when , yielding to their guest 's entreaties , the young woman consented to play for him , she did not invite him to the salon , but entered the room alone , leaving the communicating door open . In those bitter winter evenings the old oaks of the Ardennes gave out a grateful warmth from the depths of the great cavernous fireplace ; there was a cup of fragrant tea for them about ten o'clock ; they laughed and chatted in the comfortable , bright room . And it did not require extra powers of vision to see that M. de Gartlauben was rapidly falling head over ears in love with that sprightly young woman , who flirted with him as audaciously as she had flirted in former days at Charleville with Captain Beaudoin 's friends . He began to pay increased attention to his person , displayed a gallantry that verged on the fantastic , was raised to the pinnacle of bliss by the most trifling favor , tormented by the one ever-present anxiety not to appear a barbarian in her eyes , a rude soldier who did not know the ways of women . And thus it was that in the big , gloomy house in the Rue Maqua a twofold life went on .