about five o'clock
On his way home from the bank he settled the manner of his procedure . The Callender family , outside of Phillida at most , did not know his man Robert . By sending the discreet Robert systematically with messages in Mrs. Hilbrough 's name , those who attended the door would come to regard him as the Hilbrough messenger . It was about five o'clock when Robert , under careful instructions , presented Mrs. Hilbrough 's card at the Callender door . Unfortunately for Millard 's plan , Mrs. Callender , despite Robert 's hint that a verbal message would be sufficient , wrote her reply . When the note came into Millard 's hands he did not know what to do . His commission did not extend to opening a missive addressed to Mrs. Hilbrough .