eleven o'clock
She listened politely to the sneering remarks of Lorilleux , who seemed buried in the depths of the immense overcoat he was wearing . From time to time , Gervaise would turn her head a little to smile brightly at Coupeau , who was rather uncomfortable under the hot sun in his new clothes . Though they walked very slowly , they arrived at the mayor 's quite half an hour too soon . And as the mayor was late , their turn was not reached till close upon eleven o'clock . They sat down on some chairs and waited in a corner of the apartment , looking by turns at the high ceiling and bare walls , talking low , and over-politely pushing back their chairs each time that one of the attendants passed . Yet among themselves they called the mayor a sluggard , saying he must be visiting his blonde to get a massage for his gout , or that maybe he 'd swallowed his official sash . However , when the mayor did put in his appearance , they rose respectfully in his honor .