midnight
`` All right , O slave . '' Jimmie Dale laughed back -- and slipped his hand , a trick of their old college days together , through Carruthers ' arm as they left the room . He accompanied Carruthers downstairs to the door of the club , and saw his guest into a taxi ; then he returned inside , sauntered through the billiard room , and from there into one of the cardrooms , where , pressed into a game , he played several rubbers of bridge before going home . It was , therefore , well on toward midnight when Jimmie Dale arrived at his house on Riverside Drive , and was admitted by an elderly manservant . `` Hello , Jason , '' said Jimmie Dale pleasantly . `` You still up ! '' `` Yes , sir , '' replied Jason , who had been valet to Jimmie Dale 's father before him .