three in the morning
At noon she insisted on returning to the hotel for luncheon , though , as her father pointed out , they were far from the Carlton at the time . Her journey was rewarded . Letter number two was waiting ; and as she read she gasped . DEAR LADY AT THE CARLTON : I am writing this at three in the morning , with London silent as the grave , beyond our garden . That I am so late in getting to it is not because I did not think of you all day yesterday ; not because I did not sit down at my desk at seven last evening to address you . Believe me , only the most startling , the most appalling accident could have held me up . That most startling , most appalling accident has happened .