noon
After having lit a row of gas jets running the whole length of a second cellar , at the end of which was an iron man painted red and blue ; he placed on a table two pairs of breech-loading pistols , and began to give the word of command in a sharp tone , as though on the ground : `` Ready ? Fire -- one -- two -- three . '' Duroy , dumbfounded , obeyed , raising his arm , aiming and firing , and as he often hit the mark fair on the body , having frequently made use of an old horse pistol of his father 's when a boy , against the birds , Jacques Rival , well satisfied , exclaimed : `` Good -- very good -- very good -- you will do -- you will do . '' Then he left George , saying : `` Go on shooting till noon ; here is plenty of ammunition , do n't be afraid to use it . I will come back to take you to lunch and tell you how things are going . '' Left to himself , Duroy fired a few more shots , and then sat down and began to reflect . How absurd these things were , all the same !