about three o'clock
Through the rather narrow carpeted hall I passed into the study which lay behind the dining-room , a small , cosy apartment -- the acme of comfort . I , as a bachelor , hated the big terra-cotta-and-white drawing-room upstairs . When there , I made the study my own den . I had an important letter to write , but scarcely had I seated myself at the table when old Browning , grave , grey-faced and solemn , entered , saying -- `` A clergyman called to see you about three o'clock , sir . He asked if you were at home . When I replied that you were at the club , he became rather inquisitive concerning your affairs , and asked me quite a lot of questions as to where you had been lately , and who you were . I was rather annoyed , sir , and I 'm afraid I may have spoken rudely .