About one o’clock
Maxime requested his visitor to arrange , as if by accident , a breakfast at the cafe Anglais , where Finot , Couture , and Lousteau should gossip beside him . Finot , whose position toward the Comte de Trailles was that of a sub-lieutenant before a marshall of France , could refuse him nothing ; it was altogether too dangerous to annoy that lion . Consequently , when Maxime came to the breakfast , he found Finot and his two friends at table and the conversation already started on Madame Schontz , about whom Couture , well manoeuvred by Finot and Lousteau -LRB- Lousteau being , though not aware of it , Finot 's tool -RRB- , revealed to the Comte de Trailles all that he wanted to know about her . About one o'clock , Maxime was chewing a toothpick and talking with du Tillet on Tortoni 's portico , where speculation held a little Bourse , a sort of prelude to the great one . He seemed to be engaged in business , but he was really awaiting the Comte de la Palferine , who , within a given time , was certain to pass that way . The boulevard des Italiens is to-day what the Pont Neuf was in 1650 ; all persons known to fame pass along it once , at least , in the course of the day . Accordingly , at the end of about ten minutes , Maxime dropped du Tillet 's arm , and nodding to the young Prince of Bohemia said , smiling : -- `` One word with you , count . ''