midnight
After that , Michel was sure of being warned of any change . Pierre was the hostler , and nothing could be done in the stable without his knowledge . A lad attached to the inn promised to convey the news to Michel , in return for which Michel gave him three charges of powder with which to make firecrackers . At midnight the traveller had not yet started ; they had drunk four bottles of wine , but Michel had partaken sparingly of them . He had found means to pour three of the four bottles into Pierre 's glass , where they did not long remain . At midnight the wine-shop closed , and Michel having nowhere to go for the four hours that still remained until daybreak , Pierre offered him a bed of straw in the stable . Michel accepted .