four o’clock
If she had had that touch of abandon shown when she sang `` The Waking of the Fire , '' Gaston might , even at this moment , have broken his promise to his uncle ; but , somehow , he knew himself slipping away from her . With the tenderness he felt , he still knew that he was acting ; imitating , reproducing other , better , moments with her . He felt the disrespect to her , but it could not be helped -- it could not be helped . He said that he would call and say good-bye to her and Mrs. Gasgoyne at four o'clock . Then he left . He went to his chambers , gave Jacques instructions , did some writing , and returned at four . Mrs. Gasgoyne had not come back .