midnight
What with women and wine and the excitement of his vocation , a man could afford to rest now and then . Naturally , the aspect of prison life was changed for Jurgis by the arrival of a cell mate . He could not turn his face to the wall and sulk , he had to speak when he was spoken to ; nor could he help being interested in the conversation of Duane -- the first educated man with whom he had ever talked . How could he help listening with wonder while the other told of midnight ventures and perilous escapes , of feastings and orgies , of fortunes squandered in a night ? The young fellow had an amused contempt for Jurgis , as a sort of working mule ; he , too , had felt the world 's injustice , but instead of bearing it patiently , he had struck back , and struck hard . He was striking all the time -- there was war between him and society . He was a genial freebooter , living off the enemy , without fear or shame .