a quarter to eleven
Accordingly he went to the Countess , but she begged to be excused , as the hour was early and she not dressed . He returned home where he found his wife very uneasy . Joking at her useless fears , he told her that he was going again to the King . It was a quarter to eleven when Sulkowski went again to the castle . There were very few people in the ante-room . As Sulkowski approached the door leading to the King 's apartments , a page rushed out and told him that the King was in the Queen 's apartments . He had no desire to go to the Queen , for there he would not be received without being first announced .