a quarter to five
Unsummoned Witnesses . Slowly the afternoon wore away . My content had given place to urgent impatience , and I longed every moment for the summons to action . None came ; and a quarter to five I went downstairs , hoping to find some means of whiling away the interval of time . Pushing open the door of the little _ salle-à-manger _ , I was presented with a back view of my host M. Bontet , who was leaning out of the window . Just as I entered , he shouted `` Ready at six ! '' Then he turned swiftly round , having , I suppose , heard my entrance ; at the same moment , the sound of a door violently slammed struck on my ear across the yard .