about nine o'clock in the morning
The frog by the pool had stopped croaking , and the melancholy cry of the owlet had ceased . Corbario went softly on , trying the floor of the verandah with his bare feet at each step , lest the boards should creak a little under his weight . He reached the window door of his own room , and slipped into the darkness without noise . Kalmon cared little for quail-shooting , and as the carriage was going back to Rome he took advantage of it to reach the city , and took his departure about nine o'clock in the morning . `` By the way , how did you sleep ? '' asked Corbario as he shook hands at parting . `` I forgot to ask you . ''