These hours of work achieved, he dressed and went down among his friends.

Then came the mid-day dinner, which was sumptuous; host and guests both ate and drank more than was good for their health.

After a short siesta, towards four o'clock they took their sticks and went forth to walk, among woods, over ploughed fields, up hills, through quagmires, delighting in nature.

As they went, they talked of history, or politics, or chemistry, of literature, or physics, or morality.

At sundown they returned, to find lights and cards on the tables, and they made parties of piquet, interrupted by supper.