twelve o'clock
But to-night Veronica knew that she should not be disturbed ; for she understood that this was to be an important epoch in her life , upon which all the future must depend , and that , since she had asked time for consideration , Matilde would not intrude upon her solitude . Knowing that she had as many hours before her as she pleased to take , she began the arduous task of self-examination by greedily reading a novel which Bosio had given her two days earlier , and which she had not opened . Somehow , she fancied that while she was reading her mind would decide itself . The immediate question was not really whether she should accept Bosio or not , but whether she should go again on the morrow to her friend Bianca Corleone , between eleven and , twelve o'clock . That Gianluca della Spina would be there , she had not a doubt , and the idea of going there to meet him presented itself to her mind as a dangerous and mad adventure . If she hesitated , however , it was not on account of meeting the man who was dying of love for her , but rather for fear of what Taquisara might think of her if she thus answered his summons to the interview . He had promised that he would not be present , and this gave her courage ; but Bianca would see and understand , for Bianca had first spoken to her of Gianluca , that very morning , and as for Taquisara , he would , of course , soon know all about it from his friend .