four
o'clock
After a walk of some twenty minutes , he was again over the spot where he had been an hour before , and from which he had been so unceremoniously expelled by the old man . He looked in vain for the book ; it was nowhere to be found : nothing save the bouquet which the lady had dropped , and which lay half-buried in the grass from having been trodden upon , indicated that any one had been there that evening . Mr. Green took up the bunch of flowers , and again returned to the hotel . After passing a sleepless night , and hearing the clock strike six , he dropped into a sweet sleep , from which he did not awaken until roused by the rap of a servant , who , entering his room , handed him a note which ran as follows : -- `` Sir , -- I owe you an apology for the inconvenience to which you were subjected last evening , and if you will honour us with your presence to dinner to-day at four o'clock , I shall be most happy to give you due satisfaction . My servant will be in waiting for you at half-past three . I am , sir , your obedient servant , J. Devenant . October 23 .