one o'clock
In spite of the things that had been done , of Valcarm 's visit to the upper storeys of the house , of the flight to Augsburg , of Linda 's long protracted obstinacy and persistently expressed hatred for the man who was to be her husband , Madame Staubach still trusted her niece . She trusted Linda perhaps the more at this time from a feeling that she had exacted so much from the girl . When , therefore , Linda kissed her and went out , she had no suspicion on her mind ; nor was any aroused till the usual dinner-hour was passed , and Linda was still absent . When Tetchen at one o'clock said something of her wonder that the fraulein had not returned , Madame Staubach had suggested that she might be with her friend Herr Molk . Tetchen knew what was the warmth of that friendship , and thought that such a visit was not probable . At three o'clock the postman brought a letter which Linda herself had dropped into the box of the post-office that morning , soon after leaving the house . She had known when , in ordinary course , it would be delivered .