eight
o’clock
Bonaparte , general or First Consul , kept others awake , but he slept , and slept well . He retired at midnight , sometimes earlier , as we have said , and when at seven in the morning they entered his room to awaken him he was always asleep . Usually at the first call he would rise ; but occasionally , still half asleep , he would mutter : `` Bourrienne , I beg of you , let me sleep a little longer . '' Then , if there was nothing urgent , Bourrienne would return at eight o'clock ; if it was otherwise , he insisted , and then , with much grumbling , Bonaparte would get up . He slept seven , sometimes eight , hours out of the twenty-four , taking a short nap in the afternoon . He also gave particular instruction for the night . `` At night , '' he would say , `` come in my room as seldom as possible .