four o'clock
` Medole , ' he said , ` has the principal conduct of the business in Milan , as you know , countess . Our Chief can not be everywhere at once ; so Medole undertakes to decide for him here in old Milan . He decided yesterday afternoon to put off our holiday for what he calls a week . Checco , the idiot , in whom he confides , gave me the paper signifying the fact at four o'clock . There was no appeal ; for we can get no place of general meeting under Medole 's prudent management . He fears our being swallowed in a body if we all meet . ' The news sent her heart sinking in short throbs down to a delicious rest ; but Countess Ammiani disdained to be servile to the pleasure , even as she had strengthened herself to endure the shocks of pain .