about seven o'clock in the
evening
A waiter from the gambling-house followed him , picked him up , and took him to one of those horrible houses at the door of which , on a hanging lamp , are the words : `` Lodgings for the night . '' The waiter paid for the ruined gambler , who was put to bed , where he remained till Christmas night . The managers of gambling-houses have some consideration for their customers , especially for high players . Philippe awoke about seven o'clock in the evening , his mouth parched , his face swollen , and he himself in the grip of a nervous fever . The strength of his constitution enabled him to get home on foot , where meanwhile he had , without willing it , brought mourning , desolation , poverty , and death . The evening before , when dinner was ready , Madame Descoings and Agathe expected Philippe . They waited dinner till seven o'clock .