a quarter to twelve
All his consciousness now was absorbed by the question whether the dancer would come or not . The dinner passed somehow -- it is to be assumed that the customers grumbled , but in his suspense Dupont regarded them with indifference . The hours crept by . It was a quarter to twelve -- twelve o'clock . He trembled behind the counter as if with ague . Now it was time that she was here ! His face was blanched , his teeth chattered in his head .