midnight
M. Bertollon had long since recovered . He was more cheerful than usual , and joked as before at my zeal for virtue ; he loved me at the same time so truly that it grieved him that I so obstinately persisted in my strict principles . I therefore sometimes afforded him the satisfaction of appearing to agree with him , and of yielding to his favourite whim , that all upon earth was but a play of expediency . The evening previous to the day on which the sentence was passed I was with him ; we were cheerfully sitting at our wine , until midnight , and swore everlasting friendship to each other till death . `` Tell me , Colas , do you know Clementine de Sonnes ? '' I blushed . Wine and confidence in his friendship elicited the holy secret .