four o'clock
So he retired into the niche of the fireplace where he had used to sit , and there he continued , watching the steam from the double row of bank-notes as they waved backwards and forwards in the draught of the chimney till their flaccidity was changed to dry crispness throughout . Then the woman came and unpinned them , and , folding them together , carried the handful upstairs . Presently the doctor appeared from above with the look of a man who could do no more , and , pulling on his gloves , went out of the house , the trotting of his horse soon dying away upon the road . At four o'clock there was a gentle knock at the door . It was from Charley , who had been sent by Captain Vye to inquire if anything had been heard of Eustacia . The girl who admitted him looked in his face as if she did not know what answer to return , and showed him in to where Venn was seated , saying to the reddleman , `` Will you tell him , please ? '' Venn told .