Ten o'clock
Consequently Buvat went home to arrange his disordered dress , which bore the marks of the events of the day and the emotions of the night ; and , moreover , he did not dare to present himself at the minister 's house so early , for fear of disturbing him . His toilet finished , and as it was still only nine o'clock , he returned for a few minutes to Bathilde 's room -- it was that which the young girl had left the day before . Buvat sat down in the chair which she had quitted , touched the articles which she liked to touch , kissed the feet of the crucifix , which she kissed each night -- one would have thought him a lover following the steps of his mistress . Ten o'clock struck ; it was the hour at which Buvat had often before repaired to the Palais Royal . The fear of being importunate gave place to the hope of being received as he had always been . He took his hat and cane , and called at Madame Denis 's to ask how Bathilde had been during his absence ; he found that she had never ceased to call for Raoul . The doctor had bled her for the third time .