about one o’clock
Mary looked again at the clock . `` It 's after two ! Go and ask the kitchen-maid if Mr. Boyne left any word . '' She went into luncheon without waiting , and Trimmle presently brought her there the kitchen-maid 's statement that the gentleman had called about one o'clock , that Mr. Boyne had gone out with him without leaving any message . The kitchen-maid did not even know the caller 's name , for he had written it on a slip of paper , which he had folded and handed to her , with the injunction to deliver it at once to Mr. Boyne . Mary finished her luncheon , still wondering , and when it was over , and Trimmle had brought the coffee to the drawing-room , her wonder had deepened to a first faint tinge of disquietude . It was unlike Boyne to absent himself without explanation at so unwonted an hour , and the difficulty of identifying the visitor whose summons he had apparently obeyed made his disappearance the more unaccountable .