five o'clock
He could not go to the man 's house , but he might possibly meet him at Maria Consuelo 's . He was surprised to find that he had almost forgotten her in his anxiety to become a man of business . It was too early to call yet , and in order to kill the time he went home , got a horse from the stables and rode out into the country for a couple of hours . At half-past five o'clock he entered the familiar little sitting-room in the hotel . Madame d'Aranjuez was alone , cutting a new book with the jewelled knife which continued to be the only object of the kind visible in the room . She smiled as Orsino entered , and she laid aside the volume as he sat down in his accustomed place . `` I thought you were not coming , '' she said .