ten o'clock at
night
Soon the girl consented to eat a bit of bread with them and drink a mouthful of wine . She often brought them plums in her pocket , for the season of plums had come . Her presence sharpened the wits of the two little Breton soldiers , and they chattered like two birds . But , one Tuesday , Luc le Ganidec asked for leave -- a thing which had never happened before -- and he did not return until ten o'clock at night . Jean racked his brains uneasily for a reason for his comrade 's going out in this way . The next Thursday Luc , having borrowed ten sous from his bedfellow , again asked and obtained permission to leave the barracks for several hours . When he set off with Jean on their Sunday walk his manner was very queer , quite restless , and quite changed .