five
o'clock
It was half-past four ; M. Desmalions , the Prefect of Police , was not yet back at the office . His private secretary laid on the desk a bundle of letters and reports which he had annotated for his chief , rang the bell and said to the messenger who entered by the main door : `` Monsieur le Préfet has sent for a number of people to see him at five o'clock . Here are their names . Show them into separate waiting-rooms , so that they ca n't communicate with one another , and let me have their cards when they come . '' The messenger went out .