about four o'clock in the afternoon
I am sure Roderick would be delighted to get you such a paper . '' Zulma 's lips curled with scorn , but she made no direct reply . She simply repeated her determination to go , tenderly reassuring her friend , and embracing her with effusion . It was about four o'clock in the afternoon , and the day had already considerably lowered , when Zulma 's sleigh reached the outer gate of the city . The officer in charge would fain have prevented her from going further , but she stated her case so plainly , and argued with such an air of authority , that he was obliged to yield to her wishes . `` Well , '' said she to herself , with a smile , `` I have broken through one circle of steel . It remains to see how I will pass through the other . ''