eleven o’clock
The man was discovered poaching . He was arrested , and turned off , and soon after -- early in February -- the general rejoined his wife in Paris . One evening in the month of May , when the fine weather had come and the Parisians had returned to Les Aigues , Monsieur de Troisville , -- who had been persuaded to accompany his daughter , -- Blondet , the Abbe Brossette , the general , and the sub-prefect of Ville-aux-Fayes , who was on a visit to the chateau , were all playing either whist or chess . It was about half-past eleven o'clock when Joseph entered and told his master that the worthless poaching workman who had been dismissed wanted to see him , -- something about a bill which he said the general still owed him . `` He is very drunk , '' added Joseph . `` Very good , I 'll go and speak to him . '' The general went out upon the lawn to some distance from the house .