eight o'clock in the evening
The Reverend Nathaniel Morse , in announcing that the marriage will take place at nine o'clock , presents the compliments of Mr. Ephrinell and Miss Bluett . Major Noltitz and I , Caterna and Pan-Chao are under arms at the time stated . Caterna did not think it his duty to resume his costume , nor did his wife . They were dressed merely for the grand dinner party which took place at eight o'clock in the evening -- the dinner given by Ephrinell to his witnesses and to the chief first-class passengers . Our actor , puffing out his left cheek , informed me that he had a surprise for us at dessert . What ? I thought it wise not to ask .