five o'clock
Then the speed slackened . He got off shaking , and looked behind him . He had reached the east end of the promenade . It lay , as it always lies towards five o'clock , absolutely deserted by visitors . In the distance and just stepped out of a newspaper kiosk a woman was standing , shading her eyes and looking towards him . Two boatmen near her were looking in the same direction . They did not seem excited , just mildly interested .