Midnight
Marcel alone retained a glimmer of lucidity in his intoxication . From time to time , at the slightest sound on the staircase , he ran and opened the door . But those who were coming up always halted at one of the lower landings , and then the artist would slowly return to his place by the fireside . Midnight struck , and Musette had not come . `` After all , '' thought Marcel , `` perhaps she was not in when my letter arrived . She will find it when she gets home tonight , and she will come tomorrow . We shall still have a fire .