four in the afternoon
The doctor 's lawyers declare that this last letter is a mere device for gaining time -- with what object they are , of course , not in a position to guess . The doctor himself says , facetiously , it is the usual lawyer 's object of making a long bill . My own idea is that Mr. Darch has his suspicions of something wrong , and that his purpose in trying to gain time -- '' * * * * * `` Ten , at night . -- I had written as far as that last unfinished sentence -LRB- toward four in the afternoon -RRB- when I was startled by hearing a cab drive up to the door . I went to the window , and got there just in time to see old Bashwood getting out with an activity of which I should never have supposed him capable . So little did I anticipate the tremendous discovery that was going to burst on me in another minute , that I turned to the glass , and wondered what the susceptible old gentleman would say to me in my widow 's cap . `` The instant he entered the room , I saw that some serious disaster had happened .