three o'clock in the
morning
It was too good to last , however -- like all things in this hard world . His soaked clothing began to steam , and the horrible stench of fertilizer to fill the room . In an hour or so the packing houses would be closing and the men coming in from their work ; and they would not come into a place that smelt of Jurgis . Also it was Saturday night , and in a couple of hours would come a violin and a cornet , and in the rear part of the saloon the families of the neighborhood would dance and feast upon wienerwurst and lager , until two or three o'clock in the morning . The saloon-keeper coughed once or twice , and then remarked , `` Say , Jack , I 'm afraid you 'll have to quit . '' He was used to the sight of human wrecks , this saloon-keeper ; he `` fired '' dozens of them every night , just as haggard and cold and forlorn as this one . But they were all men who had given up and been counted out , while Jurgis was still in the fight , and had reminders of decency about him .