nearly four o'clock in the afternoon
There had been a heavy fall of snow , and the park-like grounds surrounding Madame Durski 's abode had an almost fairy-like appearance , the tracery of the leafless trees defined by the snow that had lodged on every branch , the undulating lawn one bed of pure white . He knocked at the door and waited . The woman at the lodge had told him that it was very unlikely he would be able to see Madame Durski at this hour of the day , but he had walked on to the house notwithstanding . It was already nearly four o'clock in the afternoon ; but at that hour Paulina had rarely left her own apartments . Victor Carrington knew this quite as well as the woman at the lodge , but he had business to do with another person as well as Paulina Durski . That other person was the widow 's humble companion . The door was opened by Carlo Toas , Paulina 's confidential courier and butler .