eight o'clock
`` Who told you I was leaving ? '' I asked , hoping for a second or two that the Foreign Secretary had confided to her something of his secret -- guessing ours , perhaps , and that my unexpected , inexplicable absence might injure me with her . `` I ca n't tell you , '' she answered . `` I did n't believe you would go ; even though I got your letter by the eight o'clock post this morning . '' `` I 'm glad you got that , '' I said . `` I posted it soon after I left you last night . '' `` Why did n't you tell me when we were bidding each other good-bye , that you would n't be able to see me this afternoon , instead of waiting to write ? ''