noon
`` I know the philosophy of life . All unfledged bipeds are animals , I suppose . If Providence had made me graminivorous , I should have eaten grass ; if ruminating , I should have chewed the cud ; but as it has made me a carnivorous , culinary , and cachinnatory animal , I eat a cutlet , scold about the sauce , and laugh at you ; and this is what you call being selfish ! '' It was late at noon when Maltravers found himself at the palazzo of Madame de Ventadour . He was surprised , but agreeably so , that he was admitted , for the first time , into that private sanctum which bears the hackneyed title of boudoir . But there was little enough of the fine lady 's boudoir in the simple morning-room of Madame de Ventadour . It was a lofty apartment , stored with books , and furnished , not without claim to grace , but with very small attention to luxury .