five in the
afternoon
Was it a deep and laborious plan ? Had he heard from Delphine of my coming and rushed to town for the express purpose of returning in my company ? It looked very like it . My wire could not have arrived at the Vicarage until after five in the afternoon , and the next train to town left at nine p.m. . There was also an early morning one at eight-thirty . My brain seethed with curious questions , but there seemed only a moment 's pause before I spoke again : -- `` Have you been staying in town ? '' `` Er -- '' his eyes showed a faint flicker of amusement -- `` not long .