nine
o'clock
After he left the drawing-room , Grier passed him on the stairs . He gave her a slight signal , and the two retired to some nether region to discuss the secrets of their employers . Meanwhile Letty , having turned on the electric light in the room , walked to the window and set it half open behind the curtain . In that way she would hear the carriage approaching , it was between eight and nine o'clock . No doubt Lady Maxwell would drive round after dinner . Then , still holding the card lightly in her hand , she threw herself on the sofa . She was tired , but so excited that she could not rest -- first , by the memory of the day that had just passed ; still more by the thought of the rebuff she was about to administer to the great lady who had affronted her .