nine o'clock
Jimmie Dale did not answer -- he went on noiselessly down the stairs . His mask was off now , and his lips curved into a strange little smile . `` I wish I knew , '' said Jimmie Dale wistfully to himself . It was still early in the evening , but a little after nine o'clock . The Fifth Avenue bus wended its way , jouncing its patrons , particularly those on the top seats , across town , and turned into Riverside Drive . A short distance behind the bus , a limousine rolled down the cross street leisurely , silently . As the lights of passing craft on the Hudson and a myriad scintillating , luminous points dotting the west shore came into view , Jimmie Dale rose impulsively from his seat on the top of the bus , descended the little circular iron ladder at the rear , and dropped off into the street .