5:30 p.m.
Unless your grace does as you are requested , the Duchess of Datchet 's left-hand little finger will be at once cut off , and sent home in time to receive the prince to dinner . Other portions of her grace will follow . A lock of her grace 's hair is inclosed with this as an earnest of our good intentions . '' _ Before _ 5:30 p.m. your grace is requested to be at the Piccadilly end of the Burlington Arcade with five hundred pounds in gold . You will there be accosted by an individual in a white top hat , and with a gardenia in his buttonhole . You will be entirely at liberty to give him into custody , or to have him followed by the police , in which case the duchess 's left arm , cut off at the shoulder , will be sent home for dinner -- not to mention other extremely possible contingencies . But you are _ advised _ to give the individual in question the five hundred pounds in gold , because in that case the duchess herself will be home in time to receive the prince to dinner , and with one of the best stories with which to entertain your distinguished guests they ever heard .