seven o'clock in the morning
I have too long observed your character , your soul , your manners , to share the error into which you have persuaded your friends this evening . You are , I can not doubt , expecting your son . '' The countess made a gesture of denial ; but she had turned pale , the muscles of her face contracted from the effort that she made to exhibit firmness , and the implacable eye of the public prosecutor lost none of her movements . `` Well , receive him , '' continued the functionary of the Revolution , `` but do not keep him under your roof later than seven o'clock in the morning . To-morrow , at eight , I shall be at your door with a denunciation . '' She looked at him with a stupid air that might have made a tiger pitiful . `` I will prove , '' he continued in a kindly voice , `` the falsity of the denunciation , by making a careful search of the premises ; and the nature of my report will protect you in future from all suspicions .