six o’clock
But the latter , when they exchanged a few passing words , did not seem to remember even that there was any cause for shame on his part . He had never before shown himself more active , more devoted to business . The fatigue he had felt in the morning had passed away , and he talked and laughed like one who finds life very pleasant , and has no fear whatever of hard work . As a rule Mathieu left at six o'clock ; but that day he went into Morange 's office at half-past five to receive his month 's salary . This rightly amounted to three hundred and fifty francs ; but as five hundred had been advanced to him in January , which he paid back by instalments of fifty , he now received only fifteen louis , and these he pocketed with such an air of satisfaction that the accountant commented on it . `` Well , '' said the young fellow , `` the money 's welcome , for I left my wife with just thirty sous this morning . '' It was already more than six o'clock when he found himself outside the superb house which the Seguin du Hordel family occupied in the Avenue d'Antin .