half after nine
The bulldog neither forsakes nor forgives ; he is an Englishman . '' This declaration was succeeded by another interval of silence . The Englishman was thinking of his father ; the thoughts of Maurice were anywhere but at the chateau ; the Colonel was contemplating them both , shrewdly . `` Well , to the ladies , gentlemen ; it is half after nine . '' The countess was seated at the piano , improvising . Madame stood before the fireplace , arranging the pieces on a chess board . In the center of the room was a table littered with books , magazines and illustrated weeklies .