ten o'clock
He knew quite well that by absenting himself from the pre-nuptial festivals he had behaved in a disgraceful and unjustifiable manner which would surely be resented throughout the village , and though he was quite sure that he did not care one brass fillér what all those ignorant peasants thought of him , yet he felt it incumbent upon him to brace up his courage now , before meeting the hostile fusillade of eyes which would be sure to greet him on his return to the barn . He meant to put in a short appearance there , and then to finish his evening here in Klara 's company . He felt that his dignity demanded that he should absent himself at any rate from the supper , seeing that Elsa had so grossly defied him . `` At ten o'clock I 'll be back , Klara , '' he whispered , in the girl 's ear , as he was about to take his departure along with some of his friends , who also intended to go on to the dance in the barn . `` Indeed you wo n't , '' she retorted decisively , `` I have no use for you , my good Béla . You are almost a married man now , remember ! '' she added with a laugh .