four o’clock before
I must say that none of us had looked out of the window and that I did n't know when the man did go or if he was gone at all . As a matter of fact he was already far away ; and I may just as well say here that I never saw him again in my life . His passage across my field of vision was like that of other figures of that time : not to be forgotten , a little fantastic , infinitely enlightening for my contempt , darkening for my memory which struggles still with the clear lights and the ugly shadows of those unforgotten days . It was past four o'clock before I left the house , together with Mills . Mr. Blunt , still in his riding costume , escorted us to the very door . He asked us to send him the first fiacre we met on our way to town . `` It 's impossible to walk in this get-up through the streets , '' he remarked , with his brilliant smile .