two
o’clock in the morning
Lucien 's expansion of feeling would have softened the heart of any woman less deeply wounded than Louise d'Espard de Negrepelisse ; but her thirst for vengeance was only increased by Lucien 's graciousness . Des Lupeaulx was right ; Lucien was wanting in tact . It never crossed his mind that this history of the patent was one of the mystifications at which Mme. d'Espard was an adept . Emboldened with success and the flattering distinction shown to him by Mlle. des Touches , he stayed till two o'clock in the morning for a word in private with his hostess . Lucien had learned in Royalist newspaper offices that Mlle. des Touches was the author of a play in which _ La petite Fay _ , the marvel of the moment was about to appear . As the rooms emptied , he drew Mlle. des Touches to a sofa in the boudoir , and told the story of Coralie 's misfortune and his own so touchingly , that Mlle. des Touches promised to give the heroine 's part to his friend . That promise put new life into Coralie .