twenty-seven past two in the
morning
In fact , knowing his secret is known to the person who spoke to him through the panel of his case , suppose the idea occurred to him to get out at one of the stations , give up his journey , and abandon his attempt to rejoin Mademoiselle Zinca Klork , so as to escape the company 's pursuit ? That is possible , after all , and my intervention may have done the poor fellow harm -- to say nothing of my losing No. 11 , one of the most valuable in my collection . I am resolved to visit him before the coming dawn . But , in order to be as careful as possible , I will wait until the train has passed Tchardjoui , where it ought to arrive at twenty-seven past two in the morning . There we shall stop a quarter of an hour before proceeding towards the Amu-Daria . Popof will then retire to his den , and I shall be able to slip into the van , without fear of being seen . How long the hours appear !