five o'clock
She relied upon them to hold themselves prepared for any eventuality and to silence the adversaries , if , as she feared , they created a disturbance . M. Richard 's private secretary called to ask after the diva 's health and returned with the assurance that she was perfectly well and that , `` were she dying , '' she would sing the part of Margarita that evening . The secretary urged her , in his chief 's name , to commit no imprudence , to stay at home all day and to be careful of drafts ; and Carlotta could not help , after he had gone , comparing this unusual and unexpected advice with the threats contained in the letter . It was five o'clock when the post brought a second anonymous letter in the same hand as the first . It was short and said simply : You have a bad cold . If you are wise , you will see that it is madness to try to sing to-night . Carlotta sneered , shrugged her handsome shoulders and sang two or three notes to reassure herself .