a quarter past seven
There were only men admitted . He looked upon the hundreds assembled , and realized for the first time in more than six years that he was again a free man among free men . He drew a long breath of relief , of realization . At a quarter past seven Father Honoré made his appearance on the platform . The men settled at once into silence , and the priest began without preface : `` My friends , we will take up to-night what we may call the Brotherhood of Stone . '' The men looked at one another and smiled . Here was something new .