seven in the evening
From thence they went , at Cesar 's request , to a judge of the commercial courts . The conference between Crottat and the magistrate lasted long , and the president of the chamber of notaries was summoned . Cesar was carried about from place to place , like a bale of goods ; he never moved , and said nothing . Towards seven in the evening Alexandre Crottat took him home . The thought of appearing before Constance braced his nerves . The young notary had the charity to go before , and warn Madame Birotteau that her husband had had a rush of blood to the head . `` His ideas are rather cloudy , '' he said , with a gesture implying disturbance of the brain .