midnight
They debated the matter until she promised to procure him , on his return to France , some post in which he would have nothing to do , and which would pay him well . The bargain was then concluded . She made him don the uniform she had brought with her . He was to betake himself quietly to aunt Dide 's , and afterwards , towards midnight , assemble all the Republicans he could in the neighbourhood of the town-hall , telling them that the municipal offices were unguarded , and that they had only to push open the door to take possession of them . Antoine then asked for earnest money , and received two hundred francs . Felicite undertook to pay the remaining eight hundred on the following day . The Rougons were risking the last sum they had at their disposal .