ten o'clock
I hope your cellar is n't cold . ' '' ` Oh , no , sir ; master 's very careful of his cellar , sir . ' `` The waiter went away impressed with the idea that he had to deal with a couple of connoisseurs . '' ` You 've got those letters to write before ten o'clock , eh , Mr. Austin ? ' said the detective , as the waiter re-entered the room with a decanter on a silver salver . `` I understood the hint , and accordingly took my travelling-desk to a side-table near the fireplace . Mr. Carter handed me one of the wax-candles , and I sat down before the little table , unlocked my desk , and began to write a few lines to my mother ; while the detective smacked his lips and knowingly deliberated over his first glass of port . ''