Twelve o'clock
`` Suddenly , however , letting go of his hair , she took her dead lover 's inert head in her hands , and looked for a long time in despair at the dead face , which no longer could smile at her , and then , throwing herself onto him , she took him into her arms and kissed him ardently . Her kisses fell like blows onto his closed mouth and eyes , onto his forehead and temples , and then , putting her lips to his ear , as if he could still hear her , and as if she were about to whisper something to him , to make their embraces still more ardent , she said several times , in a heartrending voice : ` Adieu , my darling ! ' `` Just then the clock struck twelve , and I started up . ` Twelve o'clock ! ' I exclaimed . ` That is the time when the club closes . Come , Madame , we have not a moment to lose ! '