noon
Mr Flosky , however , had ceased to be visible in a morning . He was engaged in the composition of a dismal ballad ; and , Marionetta 's uneasiness overcoming her scruples of decorum , she determined to seek him in the apartment which he had chosen for his study . She tapped at the door , and at the sound ` Come in , ' entered the apartment . It was noon , and the sun was shining in full splendour , much to the annoyance of Mr Flosky , who had obviated the inconvenience by closing the shutters , and drawing the window-curtains . He was sitting at his table by the light of a solitary candle , with a pen in one hand , and a muffineer in the other , with which he occasionally sprinkled salt on the wick , to make it burn blue . He sat with ` his eye in a fine frenzy rolling , ' and turned his inspired gaze on Marionetta as if she had been the ghastly ladie of a magical vision ; then placed his hand before his eyes , with an appearance of manifest pain -- shook his head -- withdrew his hand -- rubbed his eyes , like a waking man -- and said , in a tone of ruefulness most jeremitaylorically pathetic , ` To what am I to attribute this very unexpected pleasure , my dear Miss O'Carroll ? ' MARIONETTA I must apologise for intruding on you , Mr Flosky ; but the interest which I -- you -- take in my cousin Scythrop -- MR FLOSKY Pardon me , Miss O'Carroll ; I do not take any interest in any person or thing on the face of the earth ; which sentiment , if you analyse it , you will find to be the quintessence of the most refined philanthropy .