noon
As I have said , Van Sweller carried off the park scene to my decided satisfaction . Even to me he was a hero when he foreswore , for the sake of his friend , the romantic promise of his adventure . It was later in the day , amongst the more exacting conventions that encompass the society hero , when we had our liveliest disagreement . At noon he went to O'Roon 's room and found him far enough recovered to return to his post , which he at once did . At about six o'clock in the afternoon Van Sweller fingered his watch , and flashed at me a brief look full of such shrewd cunning that I suspected him at once . `` Time to dress for dinner , old man , '' he said , with exaggerated carelessness . `` Very well , '' I answered , without giving him a clew to my suspicions ; `` I will go with you to your rooms and see that you do the thing properly .