two in the
afternoon
We began to talk of the expedition to Morea , to which I was anxious to be appointed as physician . Eugene remarked that I should lose a great deal of time if I left Paris . We then conversed on various matters , and I think you will be glad if I suppress the conversation . When the Marquise de Listomere rose , about half-past two in the afternoon of that day , her waiting-maid , Caroline , gave her a letter which she read while Caroline was doing her hair -LRB- an imprudence which many young women are thoughtless enough to commit -RRB- . `` Dear angel of love , '' said the letter , `` treasure of my life and happiness -- '' At these words the marquise was about to fling the letter in the fire ; but there came into her head a fancy -- which all virtuous women will readily understand -- to see how a man who began a letter in that style could possibly end it . When she had turned the fourth page and read it , she let her arms drop like a person much fatigued . `` Caroline , go and ask who left this letter . ''