About twelve o'clock
He thus became in the habit of going to the beer houses , where the continual elbowing of the drinkers brings you in contact with a familiar and silent public , where the heavy clouds of tobacco smoke lulls disquietude , while the heavy beer dulls the mind and calms the heart . He almost lived there . He was scarcely up , before he went there to find people to occupy his looks and his thoughts , and soon , as he felt too idle to move , he took his meals there . About twelve o'clock he used to rap on the marble table , and the waiter quickly brought a plate , a glass , a table napkin , and his lunch when he had ordered it . When he had done , he slowly drank his cup of black coffee , with his eyes fixed on the decanter of brandy , which would soon procure him an hour or two of forgetfulness . First of all he dipped his lips into the cognac , as if to get the flavor of it with the tip of his tongue . Then he threw his head back and poured it into his mouth , drop by drop , and turned the strong liquor over on his palate , his gums and the mucous membrane of his cheeks , and then he swallowed it slowly , and felt it going down his throat , and into his stomach .