three o'clock
When , therefore , Linda kissed her and went out , she had no suspicion on her mind ; nor was any aroused till the usual dinner-hour was passed , and Linda was still absent . When Tetchen at one o'clock said something of her wonder that the fraulein had not returned , Madame Staubach had suggested that she might be with her friend Herr Molk . Tetchen knew what was the warmth of that friendship , and thought that such a visit was not probable . At three o'clock the postman brought a letter which Linda herself had dropped into the box of the post-office that morning , soon after leaving the house . She had known when , in ordinary course , it would be delivered . Should it lead by any misfortune to her discovery before she could escape , that she could not help . Even that , accompanied by her capture , would be as good a mode as any other of telling her aunt the truth .