three o'clock
The deep sky glittered with stars ; in the corner of the next villa garden the black plumes of some cypresses blotted out their space among them . '' _ Is n't _ it Florentine ? '' demanded Mrs. Bowen , giving the hand which Colville offered in helping her out of the carriage a little vivid pressure , full of reminiscence and confident sympathy . A flush of youth warmed his heart ; he did not quail even when the porter of the villa intervened between her and her coachman , whom she was telling when to come back , and said that the carriages were ordered for three o'clock . `` Did you ever sit up so late as that in Des Vaches ? '' asked Miss Graham mischievously . `` Oh yes ; I was editor of a morning paper , '' he explained .