a quarter to ten
The next day Buvat did what he had never dared to do before . He took Bathilde in his arms , leaned his good-natured round face against the charming little face of the child , and said softly -- `` Be easy , poor little innocent , there are yet good people on the earth . '' The little girl threw her arms round his neck and kissed him . Buvat felt that the tears stood in his eyes , and as he had often heard that you must not cry before sick people , for fear of agitating them , he drew out his watch , and assuming a gruff voice to conceal his emotion -- `` Hum , it is a quarter to ten , I must go . Good-day , Madame du Rocher . '' On the staircase he met the doctor , and asked him what he thought of the patient . As he was a doctor who came through charity , and did not consider himself at all bound to be considerate when he was not paid , he replied that in three days she would be dead .