night about eleven o'clock
Mrs. Rivers went north to join her children , and the number of guests in the hotel diminished to two or three . Business and tourists came to a standstill during these scorching weeks , and Rivers finally went down to Shanghai for a few days ' jollification . He left his affairs in the hands of the shroff , the Chinese accountant , who could be trusted to manage them for a short time . He returned unexpectedly one night about eleven o'clock , quite drunk . The few guests had retired and the hotel was closed . At the gate , the watchman lay asleep beside his lantern , and when Rivers let himself in with his key , he found Liu in the lounge , also asleep . He cursed Liu , but submitted to the steady , supporting arm which the boy place around his waist , and was led to bed without difficulty .