one o'clock
I thank you , and hope you 'll forgive me . And now will you please return to your rooms , without asking me any questions , and do as I have begged ? And I sincerely hope that this wretched business may not interfere with your enjoyment to-night . For my part , I am so confident of the success of this scheme that I mean to consider that I have not been robbed -- that everything is as it has always been , and as it will be after the envelopes are opened at one o'clock . '' She ceased ; there was the stir of a general rising and movement toward the door , amid a hum of excited murmurings . Once sheltered by the privacy of her bedchamber and seated before the little white-enamel desk with its chintz-covered fittings that suited so well the simple , cheerful scheme of decoration , the girl lingered long , an idle pencil caught between fingers infirm of purpose . Her gaze was fixed as if hypnotised to the blank white face of the bit of cardboard that lay before her on the blotting-pad , her thoughts far astray in a dark jungle of horror , doubts , suspicions , fears .