four o'clock
He had spoken as if he were . Cecil railed unreservedly to Lord Palmet against that woman ` Mistress Culling , ' as it pleased him to term her , and who could be offended by his calling her so ? His fine wit revelled in bestowing titles that were at once batteries directed upon persons he hated , and entrenchments for himself . At four o'clock on a sultry afternoon he sat at table with his Bevisham supporters , and pledged them correspondingly in English hotel champagne , sherry and claret . At seven he was rid of them , but parched and heated , as he deserved to be , he owned , for drinking the poison . It would be a good subject for Parliament if he could get it up , he reflected . ` And now , ' said he to Palmet , ` we might be crossing over to the Club if I had n't to go about that stupid business to Holdesbury to-morrow morning .