six o’clock
Twice he got up and went to listen at Clotilde 's door , but he heard nothing . He went downstairs to close a door that banged persistently , like misfortune knocking at the walls . Gusts blew through the dark rooms , and he went to bed again , shivering and haunted by lugubrious visions . At six o'clock Martine , fancying she heard her master knocking for her on the floor of his room , went upstairs . She entered the room with the alert and excited expression which she had worn for the past two days ; but she stood still , astonished and uneasy , when she saw him lying , half-dressed , across his bed , haggard , biting the pillow to stifle his sobs . He got out of bed and tried to finish dressing himself , but a fresh attack seized him , and , his head giddy and his heart palpitating to suffocation , recovering from a momentary faintness , he faltered in agonized tones : `` No , no , I can not ; I suffer too much . I would rather die , die now -- '' He recognized Martine , and abandoning himself to his grief , his strength totally gone , he made his confession to her : `` My poor girl , I suffer too much , my heart is breaking .