nearly three o'clock
And the arrival of a princely blue motor car at the nearest inn was such a shock to the nerves of the landlady and her staff that the interval before lunch was as long and solemn as the Dead March in Saul . To show what he could do in an emergency , the chef slaughtered and cooked every animal within reach for miles around . They appeared in a procession , according to their kind , when necessary disguised in rich and succulent sauces which did credit to the creator 's imagination ; and there were reserve forces of cakes , preserves , and puddings , all of which coldly furnished forth the servants ' meal when they had served our betters . It was nearly three o'clock when we were ready to leave Alais , and the chauffeur had on his bronze-statue expression as he took his seat beside me after starting the car . `` What 's the matter ? '' I asked . `` Nothing , '' said he , `` except that I do n't know where we 're likely to lay our heads to-night . ''