four o'clock
if I had only a clear hundred thousand francs to offer myself as a candidate at home , near Rouen , and dish my sunning dullards of Normandy folk in their own sauce , what a statesman I should make beside these short-sighted rascals ! '' Monsieur Laroche-Mathieu went on spouting until coffee was served ; then , seeing that he was behind hand , he rang for his brougham , and holding out his hand to the journalist , said : `` You quite understand , my dear fellow ? '' `` Perfectly , my dear minister ; you may rely upon me . '' And Du Roy strolled leisurely to the office to begin his article , for he had nothing to do till four o'clock . At four o'clock he was to meet , at the Rue de Constantinople , Madame de Marelle , whom he met there regularly twice a week -- on Mondays and Fridays . But on reaching the office a telegram was handed to him . It was from Madame Walter , and ran as follows : `` I must see you to-day .