four o'clock
Finally Maria Philipovna said something to interrupt the conversation . The General was furious with me for having started the altercation with the Frenchman . On the other hand , Mr. Astley seemed to take great pleasure in my brush with Monsieur , and , rising from the table , proposed that we should go and have a drink together . The same afternoon , at four o'clock , I went to have my customary talk with Polina Alexandrovna ; and , the talk soon extended to a stroll . We entered the Park , and approached the Casino , where Polina seated herself upon a bench near the fountain , and sent Nadia away to a little distance to play with some other children . Mischa also I dispatched to play by the fountain , and in this fashion we -- that is to say , Polina and myself -- contrived to find ourselves alone . Of course , we began by talking on business matters .