two o’clock
I rose this morning at an early hour , and imagining that both you and Beckendorff had not yet made your appearance , I escaped from the grounds , intending to explore part of the surrounding country . In my stroll I came to a narrow winding road , which I am convinced lies in the direction towards Reisenburg ; there , for some reason or other , I loitered more than an hour , and very probably should have been too late for breakfast had not I been recalled to myself by the approach of a horseman . It was Beckendorff , covered with dust and mud ; his horse had been evidently hard ridden . I did not think much of it at the time , because I supposed he might have been out for three or four hours and hard worked , but I nevertheless was struck by his appearance ; and when you mentioned that he went out riding at a late hour last night , it immediately occurred to me that had he come home at one or two o'clock it was not very probable that he would have gone out again at four or five . I have no doubt that my conjecture is correct ; Beckendorff has been to Reisenburg . '' `` You have placed this business in a new and important light , '' said the Prince , his expiring hopes reviving ; `` what then do you advise me to do ? '' `` To be quiet .