three o’clock
All at once a heavy , hurried step . The Nabob appeared , alone , buttoned up in his black coat , correctly dressed , but with his face upset , his eyes haggard , still trembling from the terrible scene which he had left . She would not come . In the morning he had told the maids to dress madame for three o'clock , as he did each time he took out the Levantine with him , when it was necessary to move this indolent person , who , not being able to accept even any responsibility whatever , left others to think , decide , act for her , going willingly where she was desired to go , once she was started . And it was on this amiability that he counted to take her to Hemerlingue 's . But when , after _ dejeuner _ , Jansoulet dressed , superb , perspiring with the effort to put on gloves , asked if madame would soon be ready , he was told that she was not going out . The matter was grave , so grave , that putting on one side all the intermediaries of valets and maids , which they made use of in their conjugal dialogues , he ran up the stairs four steps at once like a gust of wind , and entered the draperied rooms of the Levantine .