nine o'clock in the evening
All honor to rash courage . '' Lousteau 's words had been like a torch for burning ; Lucien 's hot desire to be revenged on Dauriat took the place of conscience and inspiration . For three days he never left Coralie 's room ; he sat at work by the fire , waited upon by Berenice ; petted , in moments of weariness , by the silent and attentive Coralie ; till , at the end of that time , he had made a fair copy of about three columns of criticism , and an astonishingly good piece of work . It was nine o'clock in the evening when he ran round to the office , found his associates , and read over his work to an attentive audience . Felicien said not a syllable . He took up the manuscript , and made off with it pell-mell down the staircase . `` What has come to him ? ''