about 5 P.M.
Yet that one or other of us must die was perfectly certain , for I knew that I was just on the brink of failing in my oath , and matters here had reached an obvious crisis : unless we could make up our minds to part ... ? putting the width of the earth between us ? That conception occurred to me : and in the turmoil of my thoughts it seemed a possibility . Finally , about 5 P.M. , I resolved upon something : and first I leapt up , went down and across the house into the arsenal , chose a small revolver , fitted it with cartridge , took it up-stairs , lubricated it with lamp-oil , went down and out across the drawbridge , walked two miles beyond the village , shot the revolver at a tree , found its action accurate , and started back . When I came to the Castle , I walked along the island to the outer end , and looked up : there were her pretty cream Valenciennes , put up by herself , waving inward before the light lake-breeze at one open oriel ; and I knew that she was in the Castle , for I felt it : and always , always , when she was within , I knew , for I felt her with me ; and always when she was away , I knew , I felt , for the air had a dreadful drought , and a barrenness , in it . And I looked up for a time to see if she would come to the window , and then I called , and she appeared . And I said to her : ` Come down here . '