two
o’clock in the morning
A few days after his return to Paris , therefore , Rastignac sent his aunt 's letter to Mme. de Beauseant . The Vicomtesse replied by an invitation to a ball for the following evening . This was the position of affairs at the Maison Vauquer at the end of November 1819 . A few days later , after Mme. de Beauseant 's ball , Eugene came in at two o'clock in the morning . The persevering student meant to make up for the lost time by working until daylight . It was the first time that he had attempted to spend the night in this way in that silent quarter . The spell of a factitious energy was upon him ; he had beheld the pomp and splendor of the world .