about ten o'clock
When they went back to the others , Florine , Lousteau , Matifat , and Camusot were setting out the card-tables . Lucien 's friends began to arrive , for already these folk began to call themselves `` Lucien 's friends '' ; and they sat over the cards from nine o'clock till midnight . Lucien was unacquainted with a single game , but Lousteau lost a thousand francs , and Lucien could not refuse to lend him the money when he asked for it . Michel , Fulgence , and Joseph appeared about ten o'clock ; and Lucien , chatting with them in a corner , saw that they looked sober and serious enough , not to say ill at ease . D'Arthez could not come , he was finishing his book ; Leon Giraud was busy with the first number of his review ; so the brotherhood had sent three artists among their number , thinking that they would feel less out of their element in an uproarious supper party than the rest . `` Well , my dear fellows , '' said Lucien , assuming a slightly patronizing tone , `` the ` comical fellow ' may become a great public character yet , you see . '' `` I wish I may be mistaken ; I do n't ask better , '' said Michel .