eight
o'clock
He was overtired , weary in mind as in body , and greatly dejected ; even though nothing was known at San Beda he felt convinced that what he had read was the truth . He knew but little of affairs of speculation , but he knew that it was only in reason to suppose that such projects would be kept concealed , as long as might be expedient , from those who would be known to be hostile to them , in order to minimise the force of opposition . On the morning of the fourth day which followed on the priest 's visit to San Beda , about ten in the forenoon , Adone , with his two oxen , Orlando and Rinaldo , were near the river on that part of his land which was still natural moorland , and on which heather , and ling , and broom , and wild roses , and bracken grew together . He had come to cut a waggon load of furze , and had been at work there since eight o'clock , when he had come out of the great porch of the church after attending mass , for it was the twentieth of June , the name-day of Don Silverio . Scarcely had that day dawned when Adone had risen and had gone across the river to the presbytery , bearing with him a dozen eggs , two flasks of his best wine , and a bunch of late-flowering roses . They were his annual offerings on this day ; he felt some trepidation as he climbed the steep , stony , uneven street lest they should be rejected , for he was conscious that three evenings before he had offended Don Silverio , and had left the presbytery too abruptly . But his fears were allayed as soon as he entered the house ; the vicar was already up and dressed , and was about to go to the church .