nearly nine o'clock
Her husband , made amiable by the victory , had yielded to her request to be allowed to witness the interrogation and , perhaps , the tortures which were to follow . The hyena smelled the dead body , she licked her chops and was wearied at the delay in the punishment . The gobernadorcillo 's chair , that large chair under the portrait of His Majesty , was empty and seemed destined for some other person . At nearly nine o'clock , the curate , pale and with eyebrows knit , arrived . `` Well , you have n't made any one wait ! '' said the alferez sarcastically to the friar . `` I would have preferred not to be present , '' replied Father Salví , in a low voice , without taking notice of the bitter tone ... `` I am very nervous . ''