three o'clock
She nodded a careless good-bye , and at once left the house . She went straight home . Mr. Dalmaine was absent at luncheon-time ; Paula ate nothing and talked fretfully to the servant about the provision that was made for her -- though she never took the least trouble to see that her domestic concerns went properly . She idled about the drawing-room till three o'clock . A visitor came ; her instructions were : ` Not at home . ' At half-past three she ordered a hansom to be summoned , instead of her own carriage , and , having dressed with nervous rapidity , she ran downstairs and entered the vehicle . ` Drive to the British Museum , ' she spoke up to the cabman through the trap .