about three o'clock
In order to profit by the particulars furnished by Baron de Graün respecting La Goualeuse and Germain , the Schoolmaster 's son , it became necessary for Rodolph to visit the house in the Rue du Temple , formerly the abode of that young man , whose retreat the prince likewise hoped to discover through the intervention of Mlle. Rigolette . Although prepared to find it a difficult task , inasmuch as it was more than probable , if the grisette were really sufficiently in Germain 's confidence to be aware of his present abode , she also knew too well his anxiety to conceal it to be likely to give the desired information . By renting the chamber lately occupied by the young man , Rodolph , besides being on the spot to follow up his researches , considered he should also be enabled to observe closely the different individuals inhabiting the rest of the house . The same day on which the conversation passed between the Baron de Graün and Murphy , Rodolph , plainly and unpretendingly dressed , wended his way about three o'clock , on a gloomy November afternoon , towards the Rue du Temple . Situated in a district of much business and dense population , the house in question had nothing remarkable in its appearance ; it was composed of a ground floor , occupied by a man keeping a low sort of dram-shop , and four upper stories , surmounted by attics . A dark and narrow alley led to a small yard , or , rather , a species of square well , of about five or six feet in width , completely destitute of either air or light , and serving as a pestilential receptacle for all the filth thrown by the various occupants of the respective chambers from the unglazed sashes with which each landing-place was provided . At the bottom of a damp , dismal-looking staircase , a glimmering light indicated the porter 's residence , rendered smoky and dingy by the constant burning of a lamp , requisite , even at midday , to enlighten the gloomy hole , into which Rodolph entered for the purpose of asking leave to view the apartment then vacant .