a quarter past six
The sentry had been seized with scruples , and the officer of the guard had been summoned . Varvilliers pleaded an express appointment with me , and the officer , surprised but conquered , had let them pass . All this Varvilliers told us in his usual airy manner , Wetter sitting apart the while . The clock struck a quarter past six . `` We waste time , Vicomte , '' said I , and I sat down in a chair , leaving him to make the arrangements with Vohrenlorf , or , rather , to announce them to Vohrenlorf ; for my second was unmanned by the business , and had quite lost his composure . Varvilliers had just measured the distance and settled the places where we were to stand , when there was a step outside and a knock at the door . The seconds looked round .