five o'clock
There were vast possibilities in it of misery , of danger , of difficulty ; and behind these a vague , new feeling of a possible happiness far exceeding the happiness of her peaceful childhood . Without consulting her uncle , who had gone out into the street to walk backwards and forwards before the door , as he had walked backwards and forwards on his deck for forty years , she sat down and accepted the Count 's informal invitation . She seemed to do it without reflection , as if impelled thereto by something stronger than pro or con , as if acknowledging the Spaniard 's right to come into her life , bringing to bear upon it an influence which she never attempted to fathom . Thus it came about that Eve and Captain Bontnor found themselves awaiting their host in the massive , gloomy drawing-room of the Palace in the Calle de la Paz at five o'clock that afternoon . Captain Bontnor had learnt a great deal during the last few days ; among other things he had learnt to love his niece with a simple , dog-like devotion , which had a vein of pathos in it for those who see such things . He placed himself well behind Eve , and looked around him with a wondering awe . `` I think , my dear , '' he said , `` that it would have been better if you had come alone .