noon
At times he thought of nothing but the magnificent spectacle of the ballet in the great Inferno scene in the fifth act ; sometimes the sight of the house absorbed him , sometimes his own thoughts ; he had seen society in Paris , and the sight had stirred him to the depths . `` So this is my kingdom , '' he said to himself ; `` this is the world that I must conquer . '' As he walked home through the streets he thought over all that had been said by Mme. d'Espard 's courtiers ; memory reproducing with strange faithfulness their demeanor , their gestures , their manner of coming and going . Next day , towards noon , Lucien betook himself to Staub , the great tailor of that day . Partly by dint of entreaties , and partly by virtue of cash , Lucien succeeded in obtaining a promise that his clothes should be ready in time for the great day . Staub went so far as to give his word that a perfectly elegant coat , a waistcoat , and a pair of trousers should be forthcoming . Lucien then ordered linen and pocket-handkerchiefs , a little outfit , in short , of a linen-draper , and a celebrated bootmaker measured him for shoes and boots .