midnight
Madame Raquin was abed , a prey to violent delirium . Therese dragged herself to her room , where Suzanne had barely time to undress her before she gave way . Tranquillised , perceiving that everything was proceeding as well as he could wish , Laurent withdrew , and slowly gained his wretched den in the rue Saint-Victor . It was past midnight . Fresh air circulated in the deserted , silent streets . The young man could hear naught but his own footsteps resounding on the pavement . The nocturnal coolness of the atmosphere cheered him up ; the silence , the darkness gave him sharp sensations of delight , and he loitered on his way .