nine
o’clock in the morning
At half-past one the old man was at his door ; on being told he was absent , he turned and walked about the grand alley of the Champs Elysees until half-past two . When he again went to the house , the porter told him that Monsieur Halpersohn had returned , gone to bed , was asleep , and could not be disturbed . The poor father , in despair , wandered along the quay and under the frost-laden trees of the Cours-la-reine , waiting for daylight . At nine o'clock in the morning he again presented himself at the doctor 's house , demanding to know the reason why his daughter was thus virtually imprisoned . `` Monsieur , '' replied the doctor , to whose presence he was admitted , `` yesterday I told you I would answer for your daughter 's recovery ; but to-day I am responsible for her life and you will readily understand that I must be the sovereign master in such a case . Yesterday your daughter took a medicine intended to bring out her disease , the _ plica polonica _ ; until that horrible disease shows itself on the surface you can not see her . I will not allow excitement or any mistake of management to carry off my patient and your daughter .