about the hour of three
Anatole , I learned , had retired to his bed with a fit of the vapours , and the meal now before us had been cooked by the kitchen maid -- as C3 a performer as ever wielded a skillet . This , coming on top of their other troubles , induced in the company a pretty unanimous silence -- a solemn stillness , as you might say -- which even Gussie did not seem prepared to break . Except , therefore , for one short snatch of song on his part , nothing untoward marked the occasion , and presently we rose , with instructions from Aunt Dahlia to put on festal raiment and be at Market Snodsbury not later than 3.30 . This leaving me ample time to smoke a gasper or two in a shady bower beside the lake , I did so , repairing to my room round about the hour of three . Jeeves was on the job , adding the final polish to the old topper , and I was about to apprise him of the latest developments in the matter of Gussie , when he forestalled me by observing that the latter had only just concluded an agreeable visit to the Wooster bedchamber . `` I found Mr. Fink-Nottle seated here when I arrived to lay out your clothes , sir . '' `` Indeed , Jeeves ?