de Margonne:
"He had a big alarm-clock," he writes, "for he slept very well and very
soundly, and he set the alarm for two o'clock in the morning. Then he
prepared himself some coffee over a spirit lamp, together with several
slices of toasted bread; and then started in to write in bed, making
use of a desk so constructed that he could freely draw up his knees
beneath it. He continued to write in this manner until five o'clock in
the evening, taking no other nourishment than his coffee and his slices
of toasted bread.
"At five o'clock he arose, dressed for dinner, and remained with his
hosts in the drawing-room until ten o'clock, the hour at which he
withdrew to go to bed. And he never in the least modified this settled
routine."
These sojourns at Sache were longer or shorter according to the stage
of his work and the state of his purse. The servants at the chateau had
learned to tell from his expression whether he was prosperous or
hard-up; when he felt poor he met them with an affable air and kindly
words, for that was all he had to give them; when he was rich he moved
among them with the air of a prince.
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