five minutes past four
But his business , as tactful Envoy of a Protestant country , was to know nothing of this . He went on talking with Mrs. Hake , who -- good soul -- actually knew nothing of it . Her children absorbed all her care ; and having heard Miriam , the younger , cough twice that morning , she was consulting the Envoy on the winter climate of Lisbon -- was it , for instance , prophylactic against croup . At five minutes past four Sir Oliver arrived . Before apologising he stood aside ceremoniously in the doorway to admit a companion -- the Countess of Montalegre . `` I have told them , '' said he as Donna Maria tripped forward demurely to shake hands , `` to lay for the Countess . The business was long , by reason of an interminable sermon , and at the end there was a crush at the exit from the Terreiro de Paco and a twenty good minutes ' delay -- impossible to extricate oneself .