ten o’clock
Yet her whole conversation was but , in a manner , the body of the letter ; the postscript with the principal thought in it was still to come . After half an hour spent in ordinary talk , in which the words gained all their value from her tone and smiles , M. de Montriveau was about to retire discreetly , when the Duchess stopped him with an expressive gesture . `` I do not know , monsieur , whether these few minutes during which I have had the pleasure of talking to you proved so sufficiently attractive , that I may venture to ask you to call upon me ; I am afraid that it may be very selfish of me to wish to have you all to myself . If I should be so fortunate as to find that my house is agreeable to you , you will always find me at home in the evening until ten o'clock . '' The invitation was given with such irresistible grace , that M. de Montriveau could not refuse to accept it . When he fell back again among the groups of men gathered at a distance from the women , his friends congratulated him , half laughingly , half in earnest , on the extraordinary reception vouchsafed him by the Duchesse de Langeais . The difficult and brilliant conquest had been made beyond a doubt , and the glory of it was reserved for the Artillery of the Guard .