about twelve o’clock
In other respects the _ Café de Bon-Bon _ might be said to differ little from the usual _ restaurants _ of the period . A large fireplace yawned opposite the door . On the right of the fireplace an open cupboard displayed a formidable array of labelled bottles . It was here , about twelve o'clock one night , during the severe winter of -- , that Pierre Bon-Bon , after having listened for some time to the comments of his neighbours upon his singular propensity -- that Pierre Bon-Bon , I say , having turned them all out of his house , locked the door upon them with an oath , and betook himself in no very pacific mood to the comforts of a leather-bottomed arm-chair , and a fire of blazing fagots . It was one of those terrific nights which are only met with once or twice during a century . It snowed fiercely , and the house tottered to its centre with the floods of wind that , rushing through the crannies of the wall , and pouring impetuously down the chimney , shook awfully the curtains of the philosopher 's bed , and disorganized the economy of his _ pâté _ - pans and papers . The huge folio sign that swung without , exposed to the fury of the tempest , creaked ominously , and gave out a moaning sound from its stanchions of solid oak .