three o’clock
She had been rolling through the theatres for ten years or so , applauded for her beauty 's sake , and she had even ended by obtaining some pretty little successes in such parts as those of very pure young girls or loving and persecuted young women . Since there had been a question , though , of her entering the Comedie Francaise to play the _ role _ of Pauline in `` Polyeucte , '' some people had waxed indignant and others had roared with laughter , so ridiculous did the idea appear , so outrageous for the majesty of classic tragedy . She , however , quiet and stubborn , wished this thing to be , was resolved that it should be , certain as she was that she would secure it , insolent like a creature to whom men had never yet been able to refuse anything . That day , at three o'clock , Gerard de Quinsac , not knowing how to kill the time pending the appointment he had given Eve in the Rue Matignon , had thought of calling at Silviane 's , which was in the neighbourhood . She was an old caprice of his , and even nowadays he would sometimes linger at the little mansion if its pretty mistress felt bored . But he had this time found her in a fury ; and , reclining in one of the deep armchairs of the _ salon _ where `` old gold '' formed the predominant colour , he was listening to her complaints . She , standing in a white gown , white indeed from head to foot like Eve herself at the _ dejeuner _ , was speaking passionately , and fast convincing the young man , who , won over by so much youth and beauty , unconsciously compared her to his other flame , weary already of his coming assignation , and so mastered by supineness , both moral and physical , that he would have preferred to remain all day in the depths of that armchair .