half past one
He opened the three or four doors on his way to bed as gently as possible , walking on tip-toe and stretching out his hands as he passed through the sitting-room , to avoid a collision with any of the furniture . The whole house seemed to be asleep . When he reached the bedroom , he was annoyed to find that Lisa had not extinguished the candle , which was burning with a tall , mournful flame in the midst of the deep silence . As Quenu took off his shoes , and put them down in a corner , the time-piece struck half past one with such a clear , ringing sound that he turned in alarm , almost frightened to move , and gazing with an expression of angry reproach at the shining gilded Gutenberg standing there , with his finger on a book . Lisa 's head was buried in her pillow , and Quenu could only see her back ; but he divined that she was merely feigning sleep , and her conduct in turning her back upon him was so instinct with reproach that he felt sorely ill at ease . At last he slipped beneath the bed-clothes , blew out the candle , and lay perfectly still . He could have sworn that his wife was awake , though she did not speak to him ; and presently he fell asleep , feeling intensely miserable , and lacking the courage to say good night .