midnight
Had I interfered for you , '' she said , colouring a little , `` M. de Brie would have inferred interest in the master from that in the man , and he had seen to your beating himself . '' It suddenly dawned on me that this M. de Brie was the `` little cheese '' of guard-room gossip . And I thought that the gentleman would hardly display so much venom against M. Étienne unless he were a serious obstacle to his hopes . Nor would mademoiselle be here at midnight , weeping over a serving-lad , if she cared nothing for the master . If she had not worn her heart on her sleeve before the laughing salon , mayhap she would show it to me . `` Mademoiselle , '' I cried , `` when the billet was brought him M. Étienne rose from his bed at once to come . But he was faint from fatigue and loss of blood ; he could not walk across the room .