five o'clock
Gustave was charmed with the flowers , the plants , the gold-fish , which Lenora pointed out to him ; nor was he at all desirous to shorten their delicious flirtation by returning to the table . This chimed precisely with the anxiety of De Vlierbeck , who employed every stratagem he could conceive to keep his guest in the open air . He told stories , repeated jokes , appealed to Denecker 's commercial knowledge , and even quizzed him a little when he found their conversation beginning to flag . In fact , he was rejoicing that five o'clock , and , of course , the carriage , were rapidly approaching , when Denecker suddenly recalled his nephew from a distant quarter of the garden where he was strolling with Lenora . `` Come , Gustave ; come , '' said he ; `` if you wish to drink a parting glass with us let us get in , for the coach will be here in a moment . '' De Vlierbeck instantly became pale as a sheet , and , trembling from head to foot , stared silently at Denecker , who could no longer restrain his surprise at these exhibitions . `` Are you ill , sir ? ''