five o’clock
At length , when even the patient Ramiro was almost worn out by the young gentleman 's lengthy visits , the luck changed . Elsa appeared one day at dinner , and with great adroitness Adrian , quite unseen of anyone , contrived to empty the phial into her goblet of water , which , as he rejoiced to see , she drank to the last drop . But no opportunity such as he sought ensued , for Elsa , overcome , doubtless , by an unwonted rush of emotion , retired to battle it in her own chamber . Since it was impossible to follow and propose to her there , Adrian , possessing his soul in such patience as he could command , sat in the sitting-room to await her return , for he knew that it was not her habit to go out until five o'clock . As it happened , however , Elsa had other arrangements for the afternoon , since she had promised to accompany Lysbeth upon several visits to the wives of neighbours , and then to meet her cousin Foy at the factory and walk with him in the meadows beyond the town . So while Adrian , lost in dreams , waited in the sitting-room Elsa and Lysbeth left the house by the side door . They had paid three of their visits when their path chanced to lead them past the old town prison which was called the Gevangenhuis .