About
nine o'clock
Tonight she would pack her clothing and Olga 's ; she would leave a letter for her husband ; and early in the morning they would leave London . Not for any distant hiding-place ; it was better to be within easy reach of Dr. Derwent , and a retreat in Surrey would best suit their purposes , some place where lodgings could be at once obtained . The subject of difference put aside , they talked again freely and affectionately of this sudden escape from a life which in any case Mrs. Hannaford could not have endured much longer . About nine o'clock , the quiet of the house was broken by a postman 's knock ; Olga ran to take the letter , and exclaimed on seeing the address -- `` Why , it 's from Mr. Otway , and an English stamp ! '' Mrs. Hannaford found a note of a few lines . Piers Otway had reached London that morning , and would be in town for a day or two only , before going on into Yorkshire . Could he see his old friends to-morrow ?