noon
But what in this law-bound world can sinners do without the help of Luck ? She , amused and smiling dame , walked into the castle and smote the Countess Disthal with influenza , crushing her down helpless into her bed , and holding her there for days by the throat . While one hand was doing this , with the other she gaily swept the Grand Duke into East Prussia , a terrific distance , whither , all unaware of how he was being trifled with , he thought he was being swept by an irresistible desire to go , before the business of Priscilla 's public betrothal should begin , and shoot the roebucks of a friend . The Countess was thrust into her bed at noon of a Monday in October . At three the Grand Duke started for East Prussia , incognito in a motor -- you know the difficulty news has in reaching persons in motors . At four one of Priscilla 's maids , an obscure damsel who had been at the mercy of the others and was chosen because she hated them , tripped out of the castle with shining eyes and pockets heavy with bribes , and caused herself to be whisked away by the afternoon express to Cologne . At six , just as the castle guard was being relieved , two persons led their bicycles through the archway and down across the bridge .