six o'clock
I have sent a message to the cook that twenty minutes is the utmost we can give for the preparation of a meal . '' Although the governor apologized to Hector for the poorness of the repast and the haste with which it had been prepared , it was really excellent , consisting of soup , some fish fresh from the river , a cutlet , and an omelette , with a bottle of good wine of Asti . Paolo 's wants had been attended to in the kitchen . It was six o'clock when they started . The officer in command had already received his instructions , and the governor accompanied Hector to the door , where two horses were standing saddled . `` They are not your own , '' he said , `` but are two of mine . I thought that yours had made a sufficiently long journey today . ''