an Hour after Midnight
all this is your fault ! '' And he lugs out of his Pocket a ragged Sheet of Paper , which he said was the last Mandement or Charge of the Archbishop of Paris , and was for reading it to me by the Moonlight ; but I stopped him short . I had heard in a vague manner that the Public Mind was just then much agitated by some Dispute between the Clergy and the Parliament concerning Billets or Certificates of Confession ; but they concerned neither me nor the Opera House . Besides , an Hour after Midnight is not the time for reading Archbishops ' Charges in the Public Streets . '' 'T is my belief , Brother , '' I said , as soothingly as I could , `` that you 'd better go Home , and tie a Wet Clout round your Head ; or , better still , hie to a Chirurgeon and be let Blood . Have you e'er a Home ? '' He began to tell me that his Name was ROBERT FRANÇOIS DAMIENS ; that he had come from Picardy ; that he had been a Stableman , a Locksmith , a Camp-follower , and a Servant at the College of Louis-le-Grand ; that he had a Wife who was a Cook in a Noble Family , and a Daughter who coloured Prints for a Seller of Engravings .