nine o'clock
He is proud of his integrity and incorruptibility , and I think it quite possible that he may refuse to grant Marie 's release in return for a benefit done him personally . However , do not let that discourage you in the least . As I said , I will have the order by fair means or foul . '' At nine o'clock Harry presented himself in readiness for work , and found that his post would be no sinecure . The correspondence which he had to go through was enormous . Requests for favours , letters of congratulation on Robespierre 's speeches and motions in the Assembly , reports of scores of provincial committees , denunciations of aristocrats , letters of blame because the work of rooting out the suspects did not proceed faster , entreaties from friends of prisoners . All these had to be sorted , read , and answered .