ten o'clock
They both were very grave and silent , yet both exhibited a most curious twinklesomeness in their eyes . Neither Aunt Hedwig nor Minna could make anything of their strange mood ; and Aunt Hedwig was put to her trumps completely when she was sure that she saw her brother -- who was whispering to Herr Sohnstein behind the pie-counter -- poke the notary in the ribs . As to the joint chuckle at that moment of those two mysterious men there could be no doubt ; she heard it distinctly ! 14 Still further to Aunt Hedwig 's surprise , for the Café Nürnberg never was closed before ten o'clock , and usually remained open much later , Gottlieb himself began to put up the shutters ; and when this work was finished he came back into the shop and locked behind him the double front door . Almost as he turned the key there was a knock outside , as though somebody actually had been waiting in the street for the signal that the closing of the shutters gave . `` Another rascal would come in already , Sohn-stein , '' said Gottlieb , gruffly . `` Open for him , but lock the door again .