three
minutes past ten
His heart was beating wildly , in a very terror that she might not come . Nothing -- no catastrophe , no danger , no disgrace , -- could be so terrible to him as that the woman he loved so recklessly and madly should not come . She must not fail ! He looked at his watch ; it was already three minutes past ten . If in five -- then minutes she did not come , he would go to seek her -- to the House on the Dunes , aye , if must be to _ The Southern Cross _ itself . Suddenly a dark figure slipped out of the gloom , and Claire de la Fontaine was in his arms . For a moment she let him clasp her , let his lips again meet hers ; then quickly she disengaged herself .