noon
Wake was summoned from the _ Croce Rossa _ unit with which he was working at Vicenza , and the plan arranged by Blenkiron was faithfully carried out . Four officers of the Alpini , in the rough dress of peasants of the hills , met them in Chiavagno on the morning of the 18th . It was arranged that the hostess of Santa Chiara should go on a visit to her sister 's son , leaving the inn , now in the shuttered quiet of wintertime , under the charge of two ancient servants . The hour of Ivery 's coming on the 19th had been fixed by him for noon , and that morning Mary would drive up the valley , while Wake and the Alpini went inconspicuously by other routes so as to be in station around the place before midday . But on the evening of the 18th at the Hotel of the Four Kings in Chiavagno Mary received another message . It was from me and told her that I was crossing the Staub at midnight and would be at the inn before dawn . It begged her to meet me there , to meet me alone without the others , because I had that to say to her which must be said before Ivery 's coming .