Six o'clock
he whispered huskily . Without warning or presage the still evening air was smitten and made softly musical by the pealing of a distant chime , calling vespers to its brothers in Antwerp 's hundred belfries ; and one by one , far and near , the responses broke out , until it seemed as if the world must be vibrant with silver and brazen melody ; until at the last the great bells in the Cathedral spire stirred and grumbled drowsily , then woke to such ringing resonance as dwarfed all the rest and made it seem as nothing . Like the beating of a mighty heart heard through the rushing clamor of the pulses , a single deep-throated bell boomed solemnly six heavy , rumbling strokes . Six o'clock ! Kirkwood roused out of his dour brooding . The Amsterdam express would leave at 6:32 , and he knew not from what station . Striding swiftly across the promenade , he entered a small tobacco shop and made inquiry of the proprietress .