midnight
`` What are they doing just now ? '' It was Boniface Cointet who spoke . He was walking up and down outside in the Place du Murier with Cerizet watching the silhouettes of the husband and wife on the blinds . He always came at midnight for a chat with Cerizet , for the latter played the spy upon his former master 's every movement . `` He is showing her the paper he made this morning , no doubt , '' said Cerizet . `` What is it made of ? '' asked the paper manufacturer .