midnight
He reads it all , not because he is studying tactics or has need of Rob , but because he has set himself the task of reading it all . His servant brings him his morning coffee and brandy , and he believes himself still at father Etienne 's or mother Gaspard 's , at the garrison café ; this makes him quite sprightly . `` Come , mother Gaspard , It is not late , Another glass ! Come , mother Gaspard , It is not late , To midnight it wants a quarter ! '' But it is not the long , tedious military articles which first attract his eye , nor the ministerial decrees , nor the studies on the sabretache , nor the biographies of celebrated skin breeches , nor the improvement of gaiter buttons , nor the changes of police caps ; PROMOTIONS AND CHANGES , that is what he wants . PROMOTIONS AND CHANGES ! divine rubrics which have caused so many hearts to beat .