a quarter to ten in the morning
He gave a faint smile , closed his eyes to show his pity for such frivolity , and turned away again satisfied , while the other members of the Zampini Commission looked at me with interest . The letter was important . So much the worse , I must finish it : `` I will try to reconstruct the scene for you , from the details which I have gathered . `` The time is a quarter to ten in the morning . There is a knock at Monsieur Plumet 's door . The door opposite is opened half-way and Madame Plumet looks out . She withdraws in a hurry , ` with her heart in her mouth , ' as she says ; the plot she has formed is about to succeed or fail , the critical moment is at hand ; the visitor is her enemy , your rival Dufilleul .