a quarter to five
`` Very important and requiring an immediate reply . '' These notes of Rouletabille 's are not followed by any commentary . After luncheon the gentlemen played poker until half-past four , which is the `` chic '' hour for the promenade to the head of the island . Rouletabille had directed Matrena to start exactly at a quarter to five . He appeared in the meantime , announcing that he had just interviewed the mayor of St. Petersburg , which made Athanase laugh , who could not understand that anyone would come clear from Paris to talk with men like that . Natacha came from her chamber to join them for the promenade . Her father told her she looked too worried .