eight o'clock
The Collector dined at five . He laid down his pen at four , having written for ten hours almost at a stretch , declining all food -- for he hated to mix up work with eating and drinking . Before dressing for dinner he refreshed himself with another bath ; but he came to table with a jaded brain and a stomach fasting beyond appetite for food ; and the wine was champagne . Miss Quiney and Ruth Josselin , seated that evening in the drawing-room at Sabines , were startled at eight o'clock or thereabouts by a knocking on the front door . Miss Quiney looked up from her tambour-work , with hand and needle suspended in mid-air , and gazed across at Ruth , who , seated at the harpsichord , had been singing softly -- murmuring rather -- the notes of Ben Jonson 's _ Charis her Triumph _ -- `` Have you seen but a bright Lillie grow Before rude hands have touch 'd it ? '' -- -- but desisted at the noise and slewed her body half around , letting her fingers rest on the keys . `` Who in the world -- at this hour ? ''