Five o'clock
How did you get away ? '' Again his keen eyes searched hers . `` As for getting away , '' he said , slowly , `` when a Prophet has a Precursor , he should be able to arrange these things . Five o'clock is a dull hour at Hellier Crescent . The Arch-Mystics are perusing the Scitsym ; the Precursor is guarding the sacred threshold of the Prophet ; the Prophet is -- presumably -- communing with his Soul . The routine of this evening differs in no way from the routine of any other evening -- except that the Precursor is rather more than usually vigilant in his watch . '' Again the forced flippancy was apparent ; and to Enid , staring at him with wide , perplexed eyes , there was something inexplicable and alarming in this new and unfamiliar attitude .