nearly ten
o'clock
The ladies lingered at the table rather longer than usual , for Drake 's stories had suggested others to the other men , and his high spirits had awakened those of the persons near him . But Lady Angleford rose at last , and the ladies filed off to the drawing-room . The men closed up their ranks , and Drake sent the wine round briskly . There was no dance to cut short the pleasant `` after-the-ladies-have-gone '' time ; and they sat long over their wine , so that it was nearly ten o'clock when Drake , with his hand on the decanter near him , said : `` No more , anybody ? Sure ? Turfleigh , you will , surely ! '' But the old man knew that he had had enough .