seven o'clock
He at once replied : `` Can not dine . '' Then he reflected that he would be very stupid to deprive himself of the pleasant moments she might afford him , and added : `` But will wait at nine at our place . '' And having sent one of the messengers with this , to save the cost of a telegram , he began to reflect what he should do to procure himself a dinner . At seven o'clock he had not yet hit upon anything and a terrible hunger assailed him . Then he had recourse to the stratagem of a despairing man . He let all his colleagues depart , one after the other , and when he was alone rang sharply . Monsieur Walter 's messenger , left in charge of the offices , came in .