about
six o'clock
They felt the country , and they had no affection for landlords as such . Did a man arise who could give them a lead , there was no saying how soon they might not break away from the Fontenoy combination . Fontenoy felt it , and prowled among them like a Satan , urging them to complete their deed , to give the _ coup de grâce _ . On the Wednesday afternoon before the Friday on which he thought the final vote would be taken , George let himself into his own house about six o'clock , thankful to feel that he had a quiet evening before him . He had been wandering about the House of Commons and its appurtenances all day , holding colloquies with this person and that , unable to see his way -- to come to any decision . And , as was now usual , he and Fontenoy had been engaged in steering out of each other 's way as much as possible . As he went upstairs he noticed a letter lying on the step .