four o'clock
`` Were all men beasts , then ? '' They would dine at four o'clock . On Sundays Sir Oliver chose to dine informally with a few favoured guests ; and these to-day would make nine , not counting Mr. Langton , who might be reckoned one of the household . By four o'clock all had arrived -- the British envoy , Mr. Castres , with his lady ; Lord Charles Douglas , about to leave Lisbon after a visit of pleasure ; Mrs. Hake , a sister of Governor Hardy of New York -- she , with an invalid husband and two children , occupied a villa somewhat lower down the slope of Buenos Ayres ; white-haired old Colonel Arbuthnot , _ doyen _ of the English residents ; Mr. Hay , British Consul , and Mr. Raymond , one of the chiefs of the English factory , with their wives ... . Ruth looked at the clock . All were here save only their host , Sir Oliver . Mr. Langton , with Lord Charles Douglas , had returned from the auto-da-fe .