about five in the morning
It was much about the same time that Father Fabiano had set out on that walk to the forest , from which he had returned in such a state of agitation , that old Quinto Lalli , the prima donna 's travelling companion , was made acquainted with the escapade of his adopted daughter . Though she bore his name , the fact was that the old man was in no way related to the famous singer . But they had lived together in the relationship first of teacher and pupil , and then of father and daughter , by mutual adoption ever since the first beginning of the singer 's public career ; and they mutually represented to each other the only family ties which either of them knew or recognized in the world . The old man had been several hours in bed , when Bianca had returned from the ball , at about five in the morning of that Ash Wednesday . And it was not till he came from his room , between eight and nine , that he heard from Gigia , Bianca 's maid , that her mistress had not gone to bed , but had only changed her dress , and taken a cup of coffee before going out with the Marchese Ludovico more than an hour ago in a bagarino . There was nothing sufficiently strange to the former habits of his adopted daughter in such an escapade , or so unlike to many another frolic of the brilliant Diva in former days , as to cause any very great surprise to the old singing-master -- for such had been the original vocation of Signor Lalli . Yet he seemed on this occasion to be not a little annoyed at what she had done .