Two o'clock
Mr. Zanti crossed to her and spoke to her but she suddenly let her hands fall from her face and turned upon him , furiously , wildly -- `` You ... '' she said , `` You ... '' and then as though the words choked her she turned back into the inner room . Peter saw Mr. Zanti 's face and it was puckered with distress like a child 's . It was almost laughable in its helpless dismay . Two o'clock struck . `` They 'll be starting in half an hour , '' Herr Gottfried said . `` Women , '' Mr. Zanti said , still looking distressfully about him , `` they are , in truth , very difficult . '' And now there was no pretence , any longer , of disguising the nervous tension that was with them in the room .