about two o'clock
The hour for dinner was at length near at hand . Every thing was ready in the kitchen , and all were at their posts . Lenora , in full dress and with a palpitating heart , lingered in her chamber ; while her father , with a book which he appeared to be reading , sat beneath the _ catalpa _ in the garden . It was about two o'clock when a splendid equipage , drawn by a pair of superb English horses , entered the demesne of Grinselhof and drew up in front of the portal . De Vlierbeck welcomed his guests courteously , and Monsieur Denecker gave orders to the coachman to return precisely at five o'clock , as matters of importance required his presence in Antwerp before nightfall . Denecker was a large , stout person , dressed rather extravagantly , but in a style of studied carelessness which he evidently regarded as stylish . The expression of his face , it must be owned , was rather vulgar , and exhibited a compound of cunning and good-nature tempered by indifference .