noon
Rastignac concentrates himself , pulls himself together , looks for the point to carry by storm , and goes full tilt for it . He charges like a Murat , breaks squares , pounds away at shareholders , promoters , and the whole shop , and returns , when the breach is made , to his lazy , careless life . Once more he becomes the man of the South , the man of pleasure , the trifling , idle Rastignac . He has earned the right of lying in bed till noon because a crisis never finds him asleep . '' `` So far so good , but just get to his fortune , '' said Finot . `` Bixiou will lash that off at a stroke , '' replied Blondet . `` Rastignac 's fortune was Delphine de Nucingen , a remarkable woman ; she combines boldness with foresight . ''