midnight
Madame Patoux set her arms akimbo and surveyed the little group of three half-pityingly , half derisively . `` The Cardinal has not left his room since breakfast , '' she answered -- `` He is playing Providence already to a poor lad lost in the streets , and for that matter lost in the world , without father or mother to look after him , -- he was found in Notre Dame last night , -- '' `` Why , mother , '' interrupted Henri -- `` how could a boy get into Notre Dame last night ? When Babette and I went there , nobody was in the church at all , -- and we left one candle burning all alone in the darkness , -- and when we came out the Suisse swore at us for having gone in , and then locked the door . '' `` Well , if one must be so exact , the boy was not found actually in Notre Dame , obstinate child , '' returned his mother impatiently -- `` It happened at midnight , -- the good Cardinal heard someone crying and went to see who it was . And he found a poor boy outside the Cathedral weeping as if his heart were breaking , and leaning his head against the hard door for a pillow . And he brought him back and gave him his own bed to sleep in ; -- and the lad is with him now . '' Little Fabien Doucet , leaning on his crutch , looked up with interest .