ten o'clock
`` He either fears his fate too much , Or his deserts are small , That dares not put it to the touch To gain or lose it all . '' `` And mademoiselle 's witnesses ? '' inquired the notary , when he had accommodated the ladies with chairs . `` Will arrive at ten o'clock , '' answered Mademoiselle Brun , with a glance at the notary 's clock . It was three minutes to ten . The notary was a young man , with smooth hair brushed straight back from a high forehead . He was one of those men who look clever , which , in some respects , is better than being clever .