two o'clock in the afternoon
I was only too glad to accept of this , for I had determined that I would discover in what manner of regard Mistress Pamela held me , and that without loss of time . I had now every right to offer my addresses to her , which I had not had heretofore . Accordingly , having delivered the despatch-box into Mr. Boon 's hands with feelings of the most sincere and heart-felt relief , and having obtained his receipt for the same , I escorted Mistress Pamela to the Governor 's boat , thence returning to my own cabin feeling strangely lonely and melancholic . This was about half-past two o'clock in the afternoon ; at about four a small boat came alongside , and a young man of some twenty-three years of age stepped upon the deck , who introduced himself as Mr. Whitcomb , the Governor 's secretary . He brought a written message from the Governor requesting my immediate presence at the Residency upon a matter of the very first importance . I turned to Mr. Whitcomb and asked if he knew what was the nature of the business the Governor would have with me . He said no , but that the Governor and Mr. Elliott , the Company 's agent , had been closeted together with Mr. McFarland and Mr. Hansel , of the banking-house , for some time , and then had sent this message to me by him , which was plainly one of very great consequence .