nine o'clock
It was not the contemptuous demand which he had been fearing . Her voice was so low that it was almost a whisper . `` I do n't know , '' he confessed . The violin sang on ; the moon shone in at the door ; two strokes , like golden globules of sound , from the ship 's bell signaled nine o'clock . Only the rhythm of the engines , as soothing as a cat 's purring , and the slow roll of the yacht and the murmuring of the parted waves revealed that the _ Olenia _ was on her way through the night . `` I do n't know , '' he repeated . `` It does n't excuse me to say that I could not help it . ''