four o'clock
All his difficulties were at an end . He saw himself once more in a gallant attitude . The weather was very hot -- unusually hot , said people at the hotel . As he climbed the hill between three and four o'clock , the sun 's ardour reminded him of old times in the tropics . He passed along the shady avenue , and the house door was opened to him by a Basque maid-servant , who led him to the drawing-room . Here , in a dim light which filtered through the interstices of shutters , sat the lady of the house alone . `` Is it Mr. Warburton ? ''