nearly a quarter to nine
Colonel Liscannon was so much better that he could easily be left , and , moreover , an old crony had come in from the country to spend a couple of days with him . So there was no chance of Gay 's evasion without a seeming rudeness to Druro . But she was very late in arriving at the `` Falcon , '' where she was to be a passenger in Tryon 's car . At the last , it was a matter of ordering something at the chemist 's for her father and sending off a telegram that detained her , and she did not reach the hotel until nearly a quarter to nine . Long before she got there , she saw that all the cars were gone except one which she easily recognized as Tryon 's . `` Dear old Dick ! He is always to be relied on , '' she said , and had a half-finished thought that she would rather be with him that night than any one , except -- Then she went quickly into the lounge , where , no doubt , he would be waiting , and found him indeed , but sitting around a little table with coffee and liqueurs in the company of Druro and Mrs. Hading , the latter looking none too pleased .