twelve o'clock
He was probably a great fool altogether , but he never changed his mind , and was prepared to pay the price of his folly . After all , there would be plenty of time afterwards to melt her dislike , so he could afford to wait now . He would not permit himself to suffer again as he had done last night . Then he came in and had his bath , and made himself into a very perfect-looking lover , to present himself to his lady at about half-past twelve o'clock , to take her to his mother . Zara was , if anything , whiter than usual when she came into the library where he was waiting for her alone . The financier had gone to the City . She had heavy , bluish shadows under her eyes , and he saw quite plainly that , the night before , she must have been weeping bitterly .