nine o’clock
These two women had shown themselves before him in the midst of a circle with which he was familiar , and which had been , if only for this reason , singularly favorable to them . Simple , good , frank , cordial , such they had shown themselves the very first day , and delightfully pretty into the bargain -- a fact which is never insignificant . Jean fell at once under the charm ; he was there still ! At the moment when he dismounted in the barrack-yard , at nine o'clock , the old priest began his campaign joyously . Since the previous evening the Abbe 's head had been on fire ; Jean had not slept much , but he had not slept at all . He had risen very early , and with closed doors , alone with Pauline , he had counted and recounted his money , spreading out his one hundred Louis-d'or , gloating over them like a miser , and like a miser finding exquisite pleasure in handling his hoard . All that was his !