seven o’clock
`` In this wretched condition I passed a whole week , the most miserable I think of my whole life , endeavouring to humour my husband 's delusion and to conceal my own tortures ; but I had reason to fear I could not succeed long , for on the Saturday night I perceived a visible alteration in his behaviour to me . He went to bed in an apparent ill-humour , turned sullenly from me , and if I offered at any endearments he gave me only peevish answers . `` After a restless turbulent night , he rose early on Sunday morning and walked down-stairs . I expected his return to breakfast , but was soon informed by the maid that he was gone forth , and that it was no more than seven o'clock . All this you may believe , madam , alarmed me . I saw plainly he had discovered the fatal secret , though by what means I could not divine . The state of my mind was very little short of madness .