four o'clock
He said , for instance , that he was coming to see her that very afternoon ; that in order not to attract attention at the gate of the palace he would wear civilian 's dress , and that he hoped she would not only receive him , but would send Madame Bernard out of the room for a little while , so that he might speak to her alone . The proposal was so delightful and yet so disturbing that Angela thought it must be wicked and tried to examine her conscience at once ; but it shut up like an oyster taken out of the water and pretended to be perfectly insensible , turn it and probe it how she would . So she gave it up ; and she did so the more readily because it would be quite impossible to see Giovanni that afternoon , enchanting as the prospect would have been . Her aunt the Marchesa had sent word that she was coming at four o'clock with the lawyer to explain Angela 's position to her , and it was impossible to say how long the two might stay . Meanwhile she must send word to Giovanni not to come , for it would not suffice that he should be refused admittance at the gate , since he might chance to present himself just when the Marchesa drove up , which would produce a very bad impression . Angela was ashamed to send her maid with a note to a young officer , and she would not trust one of the men-servants ; she turned for advice to Madame Bernard , who was her only confidante . ` What am I to do ? '