a quarter past nine
Gentlemen whom he thus elbowed turned grumbling , and women murmured : `` What a brute ! '' He passed the Vaudeville Theater and stopped before the American café , asking himself whether he should not take his bock , so greatly did thirst torture him . Before making up his mind , he glanced at the illuminated clock . It was a quarter past nine . He knew himself that as soon as the glassful of beer was before him he would gulp it down . What would he do then up to eleven o'clock ? He passed on .