eight o’clock
But without going into details , he was a charming fellow -- clever , urbane , free-handed , and with that fortunate quality in his appearance which is known as distinction . He had not specified , in writing to Gordon Wright , the day on which he should arrive at Baden-Baden ; it must be confessed that he was not addicted to specifying days . He came to his journey 's end in the evening , and , on presenting himself at the hotel from which his friend had dated his letter , he learned that Gordon Wright had betaken himself after dinner , according to the custom of Baden-Baden , to the grounds of the Conversation-house . It was eight o'clock , and Longueville , after removing the stains of travel , sat down to dine . His first impulse had been to send for Gordon to come and keep him company at his repast ; but on second thought he determined to make it as brief as possible . Having brought it to a close , he took his way to the Kursaal . The great German watering-place is one of the prettiest nooks in Europe , and of a summer evening in the gaming days , five-and-twenty years ago , it was one of the most brilliant scenes .