about 8 P.M
he said , commending Erigone for persevering on her errand . `` But how long ago did you leave your mistress ? '' `` It was the second hour of the night -LSB- 160 -RSB- when I started , '' she replied . -LSB- 160 -RSB- The Romans divided the night into 12 hours -LRB- from sunrise to sunset -RRB- ; thus the length of the hour varied with the seasons : but at the time here mentioned the `` second hour '' was about 8 P.M. . The water-clocks could show only regular , not solar , time . Agias glanced at the water-clock . `` By Zeus ! ''