five o'clock
It was then half-past three . Clearly Giovanni 's plan was to spend as many hours as possible under the roof , in the hope of seeing her ; for though the operation had been a long one , requiring the skill of a great surgeon to perform it well , Ugo was in no danger from it , and it might be supposed that a man who had just come back from such an experience as Giovanni had lived through would wish to see a few old friends on the first day of his return , or would be obliged , at the very least , to attend to some necessary business . Sister Giovanna did not know that his return was being purposely kept a secret from the public press , and that he was far safer from reporters while he stayed in the Convent hospital than he could be in his lodging . At five o'clock the door of her office opened , and to her surprise she saw Monsignor Saracinesca standing before her , hat in hand . She could not remember that she had ever seen him there before , but it was an office , after all , and there was no reason why he should not come to it if he had business with her . She rose to receive him . He shut the door , which was the only one , bowed gravely , and took one of the two spare rush-bottomed chairs and seated himself , before he spoke .