ten o’clock
He had not gone far when he found a fiacre , and bade the man drive to the Bois and back , and fill up two hours with the journey . Now , the chill morning air and the bright light falling on tired eyes began to work upon him , and in a little while he was peacefully asleep . The cocher awoke him at the door of his hotel . He looked at his watch , and it was ten o'clock to the minute . His heart turned a somersault as he thought that this was the hour at which Gertrude would receive his letter . Breakfast was out of question , but by this time either the Bodega or the English bar would be open , and he needed a stimulant of some sort before he could face an interview if such a favour were to be accorded him . It would be unreasonable to expect that the messenger would return in less than half an hour , and he spent that time in the society of a glass of well-watered absinthe and the English newspapers of yesterday .