five o’clock
if you saw us really ridiculing a man , you 'd see that we can drive a sane man mad . '' This conversation brought Gazonal back to his cousin 's house , where the sight of luxury silenced him , and put an end to the discussion . Too late he perceived that Bixiou had been making him pose . At half-past five o'clock , the moment when Leon de Lora was making his evening toilet to the great wonderment of Gazonal , who counted the thousand and one superfluities of his cousin , and admired the solemnity of the valet as he performed his functions , the `` pedicure of monsieur '' was announced , and Publicola Masson , a little man fifty years of age , made his appearance , laid a small box of instruments on the floor , and sat down on a small chair opposite to Leon , after bowing to Gazonal and Bixiou . `` How are matters going with you ? '' asked Leon , delivering to Publicola one of his feet , already washed and prepared by the valet . `` I am forced to take two pupils , -- two young fellows who , despairing of fortune , have quitted surgery for corporistics ; they were actually dying of hunger ; and yet they are full of talent . ''