a
quarter to five
What transformations had the physical and moral contact of this husband brought to pass in her ? These enigmas rose tumultuously before him , making his pain so intolerable , that he started up with the instinctive bound of a man who has been stabbed unawares . He crossed the room to the ante-chamber and listened at the door which he had left ajar . It was on the stroke of a quarter to five . The next moment he heard footsteps on the stair , the rustle of skirts and a quick panting breath . A woman was coming up hurriedly . His heart beat with such vehemence that -- his nerves all unstrung by his long suspense -- he felt hardly able to stand on his feet .