a quarter past three
He entered the sacred edifice of La Trinite ; the coolness within was refreshing . Here and there an old woman kneeled at prayer , her face in her hands . Du Roy looked at his watch again . It was not yet a quarter past three . He took a seat , regretting that he could not smoke . At the end of the church near the choir ; he could hear the measured tread of a corpulent man whom he had noticed when he entered . Suddenly the rustle of a gown made him start .