Eleven o'clock
The marriage-contract was to be signed at midnight . Gerande , almost unconscious , saw or heard nothing . The silence was only broken by the old man 's words , and the chuckling of Pittonaccio . Eleven o'clock struck . Master Zacharius shuddered , and read in a loud voice : -- `` MAN SHOULD BE THE SLAVE OF SCIENCE , AND SACRIFICE TO IT RELATIVES AND FAMILY . '' `` Yes ! '' he cried , `` there is nothing but science in this world ! ''