half past eight o'clock
Pray what is the matter ? You look as pale as a ghost ! '' `` And have good reason to look pale , '' replied Flemming bitterly . `` Hoffmann says , in one of his note-books , that , on the eleventh of March , at half past eight o'clock , precisely , he was an ass . That is what I was this morning at half past ten o'clock , precisely , and am now , and I suppose always shall be . '' He tried to laugh , but could not . He then related to Berkley the whole story , from beginning to end .