three o’clock
`` By the way , monsieur , '' the Regimental Surgeon added , as he took his leave , `` I knew of this some days ago , and , being a justice of the peace , it was my duty to inform the authorities -- yes of course ! One must do one 's duty in any case , '' he said , in imitation of English bluffness , and took his leave . Ten minutes later Christine and Ferrol were on their way to the English province to be married . That afternoon at three o'clock , as they left the little English-speaking village man and wife , they heard something which startled them both . It was a bear-trainer , singing to his bear the same weird song , without words , which Vanne Castine sang to Michael . Over in another street they could see the bear on his hind feet , dancing , but they could not see the man . Christine glanced at Ferrol anxiously , for she was nervous and excited , though her face had also a look of exultant happiness .