two
o’clock
Jeanne shuddered and frowned ; but presently she saw in her friend 's eyes a look so full of despair , of supplication , that , passing from angry jealousy to an impulse of unheard of affection , she opened her arms to her , and clasped her to her heart . This had happened on the Friday evening the last of the three days by the end of which Maironi was to leave Rome . Towards noon on Saturday Jeanne received a note from Signora Albacina . The wife of the Under-Secretary of State was expecting Jeanne at her own home at two o'clock . It was in consequence of this invitation that Jeanne drove away shortly before two , regardless of Carlino 's protests . As soon as the carriage had started Jeanne raised her veil and took the note from her muff , bending her lovely pale face over it , gazing at it , but not reading it or studying the sense , clear and simple enough , of the words it contained . She was wondering what Signora Albacina could have to tell her ; imagining all sorts of impossible things .