three o'clock
He did not say as much , but he hinted that , when Hamilton returned , his famished and lifeless form would be found lying limply across the desk . Hamilton went out to lunch alone , hurried through his meal , and came back to find Bones alive but unhappy . He sat making faces at the table , muttering incoherent words , gesticulating at times in the most terrifying manner , and finally threw himself back into his deep chair , his hands thrust into his trousers pockets , the picture of dejection and misery . It was three o'clock when Miss Marguerite Whitland returned breathless , and , to Bones 's jealous eye , unnecessarily agitated . `` Come , come , dear old miss , '' he said testily . `` Bring your book . I wish to dictate an important letter .