three
o’clock
A hairdresser who waited upon him at a fixed hour -- another luxury , costing sixty francs a year -- held him up as the sovereign authority in matters of fashion and elegance . Amedee slept late , dressed and went out towards noon , to go to one of his farms and practise pistol-shooting . He attached as much importance to this exercise as Lord Byron did in his later days . Then , at three o'clock he came home , admired on horseback by the grisettes and the ladies who happened to be at their windows . After an affectation of study or business , which seemed to engage him till four , he dressed to dine out , spent the evening in the drawing-rooms of the aristocracy of Besancon playing whist , and went home to bed at eleven . No life could be more above board , more prudent , or more irreproachable , for he punctually attended the services at church on Sundays and holy days . To enable you to understand how exceptional is such a life , it is necessary to devote a few words to an account of Besancon .