three o’clock in the afternoon
`` It is quite possible he may refuse the grant , '' continued the King ; `` Sometimes -- though seldom -- poets are prouder than Prime Ministers ! '' With a brief nod of dismissal he turned away , inviting Sir Walter Langton to accompany him , and there was nothing more for the Marquis to do , save to return even as he had come , with two pieces of information puzzling his brain , -- one , that the King 's ` veto ' had stopped a declaration of war , -- unless , -- which was a very remote contingency , -- he and his party could persuade the people to go against the King , -- the other , that some clever spy , with the assistance of a fraudulent imitation of his signet-ring , had become aware of the financial interests involved in a private speculation depending on the intended war , which included himself , Carl Pérousse , and two or three other members of the Ministry . And , out of these two facts might possibly arise a whole train of misfortune , ruin and disgrace to those concerned . It was considerably past three o'clock in the afternoon when the King , retiring to his own private cabinet , desired Sir Roger de Launay to inform Prince Humphry that he was now prepared to receive him . Sir Roger hesitated a moment before going to fulfil the command . The King looked at him with an indulgent smile . `` Things are moving too quickly , you think , Roger ? ''