twelve o'clock
at night
The conversation continued pitched in the same key , charmingly scandalous , and agreeably corrupt . The dinner went off very pleasantly . Rastignac and de Marsay went to the Opera with the Vidame and Victurnien , with a view to following them afterwards to Mlle. des Touches ' salon . And thither , accordingly , this pair of rakes betook themselves , calculating that by that time the tragedy would have been read ; for of all things to be taken between eleven and twelve o'clock at night , a tragedy in their opinion was the most unwholesome . They went to keep a watch on Victurnien and to embarrass him , a piece of schoolboys 's mischief embittered by a jealous dandy 's spite . But Victurnien was gifted with that page 's effrontery which is a great help to ease of manner ; and Rastignac , watching him as he made his entrance , was surprised to see how quickly he caught the tone of the moment . `` That young d'Esgrignon will go far , will he not ? ''