nine o'clock in the morning
He wheedled the manager of the coach-office , made up a tale for his benefit -- he had the makings of an ingenious novelist in him -- and obtained a promise that if there should be a place , he should have it , passport or no passport , as well as a further promise to keep the hurried departure a secret . Luckily , the coach was empty when it arrived . In the middle of the following night Chesnel was set down in Paris . At nine o'clock in the morning he waited on the Kellers , and learned that the fatal draft had returned to du Croisier three days since ; but while obtaining this information , he in no way committed himself . Before he went away he inquired whether the draft could be recovered if the amount were refunded . Francois Keller 's answer was to the effect that the document was du Croisier 's property , and that it was entirely in his power to keep or return it . Then , in desperation , the old man went to the Duchess .