three
o'clock
Young Jolyon took his seat there , too , under the pear-tree that bore no fruit . The day after the evening at Richmond Soames returned from Henley by a morning train . Not constitutionally interested in amphibious sports , his visit had been one of business rather than pleasure , a client of some importance having asked him down . He went straight to the City , but finding things slack , he left at three o'clock , glad of this chance to get home quietly . Irene did not expect him . Not that he had any desire to spy on her actions , but there was no harm in thus unexpectedly surveying the scene . After changing to Park clothes he went into the drawing-room .