three o'clock
All three watched her until she had disappeared ; then Bale-Corphew found voice again . `` Master , '' he murmured , hurriedly , `` with your permission , I also would leave the Presence ; '' and with a perturbed gesture , he too bowed and passed out of the room . On a crisp , cold afternoon , one week after her interview with the Prophet , Enid Witcherley sat in the drawing-room of her London flat . The early portion of the day had been pleasantly warmed and brightened by the pale March sunshine ; but at three o'clock a searching wind had begun to blow across the city from the east ; and now , as the small gold clock on her bureau chimed the hour of five , she rose from the couch where she had been sitting , and , crossing the room with a little shiver , drew a chair to the fire and pressed the electric bell . As the maid appeared , in answer to her summons , she gave her order without looking round . `` Tea , Norris ! '' she said , in an unusually curt and laconic voice .