nine o'clock
When they came to wake her in the morning -- the very morning after that -- she was dead in her bed ; the colour gone for ever from those velvet cheeks , the fire quenched out of those passionate eyes , past power of love or hate to rekindle . _ Requiescat in pace _ , and may God give her eternal rest and forgiveness for all her sins . Poor , beautiful , erring woman ! At nine o'clock on the morning of the baroness ' death , as Nino was busy singing scales , there was a ring at the door , and presently Mariuccia came running in as fast as her poor old legs could carry her , and whiter than a pillow-case , to say that there was a man at the door with two gendarmes , asking for Nino ; and before I could question her the three men walked unbidden into the room , demanding which was Giovanni Cardegna , the singer . Nino started , and then said quietly that he was the man . I have had dealings with these people , and I know what is best to be done . They were inclined to be rough and very peremptory .