five minutes past
nine
Answer . '' In this fashion young Raoul Chamblard talked while comfortably settled back in a large red velvet arm-chair . This happened on the 26th of March , 1892 , in one of the parlor-cars of the express to Marseilles , which had left Paris at 8.50 that morning . It was now five minutes past nine . The train with much racket was crossing the bridge of Charentin . Young Chamblard was talking to his friend , Maurice Révoille , who , after a six weeks ' leave , was going to join his regiment in Algeria . The lieutenant of light cavalry responded to his friend 's question with a vague gesture .