five o'clock
We tried to trace her , of course . That is , I tried and Hephzy did not dissuade me , although she realized , I am sure , the hopelessness of the quest . Frances had left the rectory very early in the morning . The hostler at the inn had been much surprised to find her awaiting him when he came down to the yard at five o'clock . She was obliged to go to London , she said , and must take the very first train : Would he drive her to Haddington on Hill at once ? He did so -- probably she had offered him a great deal more than the regular fare -- and she had taken the train . Questioning the hostler , who was a surly , uncommunicative lout , resulted in my learning very little in addition to this .