seven o'clock in the morning
When I found him in that pitiable condition he had exactly twenty centimes between him and absolute starvation . And I , Sir Hector Ratichon , the confidant of two kings , three autocrats and an emperor , took that man to my bosom -- fed him , clothed him , housed him , gave him the post of secretary in my intricate , delicate , immensely important business -- and I did this , Sir , at a salary which , in comparison with his twenty centimes , must have seemed a princely one to him . His duties were light . He was under no obligation to serve me or to be at his post before seven o'clock in the morning , and all that he had to do then was to sweep out the three rooms , fetch water from the well in the courtyard below , light the fire in the iron stove which stood in my inner office , shell the haricots for his own mess of pottage , and put them to boil . During the day his duties were lighter still . He had to run errands for me , open the door to prospective clients , show them into the outer office , explain to them that his master was engaged on affairs relating to the kingdom of France , and generally prove himself efficient , useful and loyal -- all of which qualities he assured me , my dear Sir , he possessed to the fullest degree . And I believed him , Sir ; I nurtured the scorpion in my over-sensitive bosom !