afternoon about four o'clock
He was rather fond of her , yet the greatest wish he had in the world was to break it off . When with her he felt himself to be at once a criminal and a benefactor , a sinner and a saint . Theoretically , theatrically , and perhaps conventionally , his relations with her constituted him the villain of the piece . Yet he behaved to her more like Don Quixote than Don Juan ... * * * * * One afternoon about four o'clock -- he was expecting her -- Vincy had arranged an elaborate tea on his little green marble dining-table . Everything was there that she liked . She was particularly attached to scones ; he also had cream-cakes , sandwiches , sweets , chocolate and strawberries . As he heard the well-known slightly creaking step , his heart began to beat loudly -- quick beats .