two o’clock in the afternoon
Maskull remained thoughtful . `` What am I to think of that man ? '' `` For your information , '' replied Nightspore wearily , `` I have never known him to lie . '' A couple of days later , at two o'clock in the afternoon , Maskull and Nightspore arrived at Starkness Observatory , having covered the seven miles from Haillar Station on foot . The road , very wild and lonely , ran for the greater part of the way near the edge of rather lofty cliffs , within sight of the North Sea . The sun shone , but a brisk east wind was blowing and the air was salt and cold . The dark green waves were flecked with white .