about midnight
As he could not thank a judge for doing justice , he went to the Ragons and declared himself liege-vassal forever to the house of Popinot . While waiting about for Gaudissart , Anselme naturally went to look at the shop in the Rue des Cinq-Diamants , and got the address of the owner , for the purpose of negotiating a lease . As he sauntered through the dusky labyrinth of the great market , thinking how to achieve a rapid success , he suddenly came , in the Rue Aubry-le-Boucher , upon a rare chance , and one of good omen , with which he resolved to regale Cesar on the morrow . Soon after , while standing about the door of the Hotel du Commerce , at the end of the Rue des Deux-Ecus , about midnight , he heard , in the far distance of the Rue de Grenelle , a vaudeville chorus sung by Gaudissart , with a cane accompaniment significantly rapped upon the pavement . `` Monsieur , '' said Anselme , suddenly appearing from the doorway , `` two words ? '' `` Eleven , if you like , '' said the commercial traveller , brandishing his loaded cane over the aggressor . `` I am Popinot , '' said poor Anselme .