nearly six o’clock
`` Well , you must excuse me , my dear Abbe , '' concluded Narcisse . `` But I will now confess to you that I suspect my worthy cousin of a fear that he might compromise himself by meddling in your affair . I shall certainly see him again , but you will do well not to put too much reliance on him . '' It was nearly six o'clock when Pierre got back to the Boccanera mansion . As a rule , he passed in all modesty down the lane , and entered by the little side door , a key of which had been given him . But he had that morning received a letter from M. de la Choue , and desired to communicate it to Benedetta . So he ascended the grand staircase , and on reaching the anteroom was surprised to find nobody there .