four in the morning
The morning before a letter had been received by Baroness von Bülow , announcing her husband 's return in the evening , and close upon that came a telegram , saying that he would not arrive before the following morning , and that she must not be anxious if there were a further delay . The fact was , that two hours after writing his letter , the baron saw Benedict 's announcement in the `` Gazette . '' Fearing that he might be delayed by a wound , he wished to spare his wife any possible anxiety , her infant being only just over a week old . Although the train was not due until four in the morning , Hans , the confidential servant of the family , had already departed at three , taking the carriage to meet his master at the station and at least ten times during the interval Emma rang up her maid , wondering why the time passed so slowly . At length the sound of a carriage was heard , followed by the creaking of the great gate , the carriage passed under the arch , the tread of spurred boots echoed on the staircase , Emma 's door opened , and Emma 's arms enfolded her husband . It did not escape her notice that Frederic winced when she threw her arms round him . She asked the cause .