nearly two o'clock in the morning
he repeated . But there was still an hour . And who can tell what an hour will bring forth ? It was nearly two o'clock in the morning when Maurice and Gaspare said good-bye to Maddalena and her father on the road by Isola Bella . Salvatore had left the three donkeys at Cattaro , and had come the rest of the way on foot , while Maddalena rode Gaspare 's beast . `` The donkey you bought is for Maddalena , '' Maurice had said to him . And the fisherman had burst into effusive thanks .