three o'clock
I had some recollection of the place , for I had been there , and drove to the quays , near which I stopped at the _ Maire 's _ large house , a palatial place overlooking the sea , in which she slept , I occupying another near . The next morning I was early astir , searched in the _ mairie _ for a map of the town , where I also found a _ Bottin _ : I could thus locate the Telephone Exchange . In the _ Maire 's _ house , which I had fixed upon to be her home , the telephone was set up in an alcove adjoining a very stately _ salon _ Louis Quinze ; and though I knew that these little dry batteries would not be run down in twenty odd years , yet , fearing any weakness , I broke open the box , and substituted a new one from the Company 's stores two streets away , at the same time noting the exchange-number of the instrument . This done , I went down among the ships by the wharves , and fixed upon the first old green air-boat that seemed fairly sound , broke open a near shop , procured some buckets of oil , and by three o'clock had tested and prepared my ship . It was a dull and mournful day , drizzling , chilly . I returned then to the _ mairie _ , where for the first time I saw her , and she was heavy of heart that day : but when I broke the news that she would be able to speak to me , every day , all day , first she was all incredulous astonishment , then , for a moment , her eyes turned white to Heaven , then she was skipping like a kid . We were together three precious hours , examining the place , and returning with stores of whatever she might require , till I saw darkness coming on , and we went down to the ship .