two o'clock
Her thoughts strayed . But always they circled back to the same point . She found herself wondering whether Winkleman would appear to-night . A few hours earlier than Kingozi had predicted , in fact not far after two o'clock , the wild dancing died to absolute immobility and absolute silence , and M'tela arrived . He appeared walking casually as though out for a stroll , emerging from the end of the wide forest path . Central African natives are never obese -- comic papers to the contrary notwithstanding . Nevertheless , M'tela was a large man , amply built , his muscles overlaid by smoother , softer flesh .