four o'clock
The note was signed Diana Vrain , and , having intimated that the writer had returned only that week from Australia , requested that Mr. Denzil would be kind enough to call the next day at the Royal John Hotel in Kensington . Miss Vrain ended by stating that she had a particular desire to converse with Mr. Denzil , and hoped that he would not fail to keep the appointment . Wondering greatly how the lady -- who was no doubt the stepdaughter referred to by Mrs. Vrain -- had obtained his address , and why she desired to see him so particularly , Lucian , out of sheer curiosity , obeyed the summons . Next day , at four o'clock -- the appointed hour -- he presented himself as requested , and , on giving his name , was shown immediately into the presence of his correspondent , who occupied a small private sitting-room . When Miss Vrain rose to greet him , Lucian was amazed to see how beautiful and stately she was . With dark hair and eyes , oval face , and firm mouth , majestic figure and imperial gait , she moved towards him an apparent queen . A greater contrast to Mrs. Vrain than her stepdaughter can scarcely be imagined : the one was a frivolous , volatile fairy , the other a dignified and reserved woman .