nine o'clock
Above the vast square spread the vast sky of dark-blue velvet , the silent disturbing Infinite , where the constellations palpitated . Over the roofs of the Vatican , Charles 's Wain seemed yet more tilted , its golden wheels straying from the right path , its golden shaft upreared in the air ; whilst yonder , over Rome towards the Via Giulia , Orion was about to disappear and already showed but one of the three golden stars which bedecked his belt . IT was nearly daybreak when Pierre fell asleep , exhausted by emotion and hot with fever . And at nine o'clock , when he had risen and breakfasted , he at once wished to go down into Cardinal Boccanera 's rooms where the bodies of Dario and Benedetta had been laid in state in order that the members of the family , its friends and clients , might bring them their tears and prayers . Whilst he breakfasted , Victorine who , showing an active bravery amidst her despair , had not been to bed at all , told him of what had taken place in the house during the night and early morning . Donna Serafina , prude that she was , had again made an attempt to have the bodies separated ; but this had proved an impossibility , as / rigor mortis / had set in , and to part the lovers it would have been necessary to break their limbs . Moreover , the Cardinal , who had interposed once before , almost quarrelled with his sister on the subject , unwilling as he was that any one should disturb the lovers ' last slumber , their union of eternity .