ten o'clock
Arthur Lovell parted with his beautiful client at the railway station , and drove off to the hotel at which he was in the habit of staying . He called upon Miss Dunbar on the 18th ; but found that she was out shopping with Mrs. Madden . He called again , on the morning of the 19th ; that bright sunny August morning on which the body of the murdered man lay in the darkened chamber at Winchester . It was only ten o'clock when the young lawyer made his appearance in the pleasant morning-room occupied by Laura Dunbar whenever she stayed in Portland Place . The breakfast equipage was still upon the table in the centre of the room . Mrs. Madden , who was companion , housekeeper , and confidential maid to her charming young mistress , was officiating at the breakfast-table ; Dora Macmahon was sitting near her , with an open book by the side of her breakfast-cup ; and Miss Laura Dunbar was lounging in a low easy-chair , near a broad window that opened into a conservatory filled with exotics , that made the air heavy with their almost overpowering perfume . She rose as Arthur Lovell came into the room , and she looked more like a lily than ever in her long loose morning-dress of soft semi-diaphanous muslin .