about six o'clock
We stopped at wild mountain gorges alive with the rustle of water and aglow with wild-flowers . We went on foot through one-streeted , tumble-down villages and passed the time of day with the kindly inhabitants . And the August sun shone all the time . We reached Royat at about six o'clock and went straight up to our rooms . On my table some letters awaited me ; but instead of finding among them the apology from Bakkus which I had expected , I came across a telephone memorandum asking me to ring up Monsieur Patou at the Hôtel Moderne , Vichy , as soon as I returned . After glancing through my correspondence , I descended to the bureau and there found Auriol in talk with the _ concierge _ . She broke off and waved a telegram at me .