four o'clock
` Monsieur is in excellent time , ' said the host , making room for me beside his chair . Notwithstanding the incumbrance of my weighty habiliments , I proceeded to do ample justice to the viands before me , apologizing laughingly to the host , by pleading a traveller 's appetite . '' ` Then you have perhaps come far this morning , ' said a gentleman opposite . '' ` Yes , ' said I , ` I have been on the road since four o'clock . ' '' ` And how are the roads ? ' said another . ` Very bad , ' said I , ` the first few stages from Lyons , afterwards much better . '