two o'clock in the
morning
He had not time for ordinary society . So said the Duchess . And many , perhaps the majority of those who frequented the house , really believed that his official duties were too onerous to leave him time for conversation . But in truth the hours went heavily with him as he sat alone in his study , sighing for some sweet parliamentary task , and regretting the days in which he was privileged to sit in the House of Commons till two o'clock in the morning , in the hope that he might get a clause or two passed in his Bill for decimal coinage . It was at the Horns at an afternoon party , given there in the gardens by the Duchess , early in July , that Arthur Fletcher first saw Emily after her marriage , and Lopez after the occurrence in Silverbridge . As it happened he came out upon the lawn close after them , and found them speaking to the Duchess as they passed on . She had put herself out of the way to be civil to Mr. and Mrs. Lopez , feeling that she had in some degree injured him in reference to the election , and had therefore invited both him and his wife on more than one occasion .