Midnight
But Yann , who knew very well whose hand had traced it , turned aside , shrugging his shoulders , as much as to say that he was worried too often about this Gaud girl . So Sylvestre carefully folded up the poor , rejected paper , put it into its envelope and all in his jersey , next his breast , saying to himself sadly : `` For sure , they 'll never marry . But what on earth can he have to say against her ? '' Midnight was struck on the cruiser 's bell . And yet our couple remained sitting there , thinking of home , the absent ones , a thousand things in reverie . At this same moment the everlasting sun , which had dipped its lower edge into the waters , began slowly to reascend , and lo ! this was morning .