about ten o'clock
Gervaise became accustomed to seeing the dirty linen lying about and to seeing Lantier coming in and going out . He still talked with an important air of his business operations . He went out daily , dressed with the utmost care and came home , declaring that he was worn out with the discussions in which he had been engaged and which involved the gravest and most important interests . He rose about ten o'clock , took a walk if the day pleased him , and if it rained he sat in the shop and read his paper . He liked to be there . It was his delight to live surrounded by a circle of worshiping women , and he basked indolently in the warmth and atmosphere of ease and comfort , which characterized the place . At first Lantier took his meals at the restaurant at the corner , but after a while he dined three or four times a week with the Coupeaus and finally requested permission to board with them and agreed to pay them fifteen francs each Saturday .