nearly three o'clock
Owen stared . Then , thinking it both his duty and his interest to prevent his master 's finishing the bottle -- `` Monsieur , '' said he , `` I have heard that if you are riding , it is bad to drink when it is very cold . You forgot that we have a long way to go , and that it will be getting still colder , and , if we wait much longer , we shall get no post-horses . It is nearly three o'clock , now , and at half-past four it will be dark . '' This behavior surprised Gaston . `` You are in a very great hurry , Owen , '' said he ; `` have you a rendezvous with the man who was asking his way of you ? '' `` Monsieur knows that to be impossible , '' replied Owen , `` since he is going to Rennes , and we to Paris . ''