about five in the afternoon
To this question the answers were doubtful . One waiter thought he should recognise the man ; another was not sure ; and Monsieur the proprietor admitted that he had himself been too angry to observe anything or anybody very minutely . Finally , having made themselves of as much importance and asked as many questions as possible , the sergents de ville condescended to accept a couple of-petits verres a-piece , and then , with much lifting of cocked hats and clattering of sabres , departed . Most of the students had ere this dropped off by twos and threes , and were gone to their day 's work , or pleasure -- to return again in equal force about five in the afternoon . Of those that remained , some five or six came up when the police were gone , and began chatting about the robbery . When they learned that Flandrin had desired to have a sketch of the man 's head ; when Müller described his features , and I his obstinate reserve and semi-military air , their excitement knew no bounds . Each had immediately his own conjecture to offer .