five o’clock in the morning
After examining this rabble of women and children , the ridiculous flag which led them , and the rude disguises of the men : `` It is some popular fete or some carnival comedy , '' said he ; and again returning to the corner of the fire , he placed a large almanac upon the table , and carefully sought in it what saint was honored that day . He looked in the column of the month of December ; and , finding at the fourth day of this month the name of Ste.-Barbe , he remembered that he had seen several small cannons and barrels pass , and , perfectly satisfied with the explanation which he had given himself , he hastened to drive away the interruption which had called off his attention , and resumed his quiet studies , rising only to take a book from the shelves of his library , and , after reading in it a phrase , a line , or only a word , he threw it from him upon his table or on the floor , covered in this way with books or papers which he would not trouble himself to return to their places , lest he should break the thread of his reveries . Suddenly the door was hastily opened , and a name was announced which he had distinguished among those at the bar -- a man whom his connections with the magistracy had made personally known to him . `` And by what chance , at five o'clock in the morning , do I see Monsieur Fournier ? '' he cried . `` Are there some unfortunates to defend , some families to be supported by the fruits of his talent , some error to dissipate in us , some virtue to awaken in our hearts ? for these are of his accustomed works .