ten o'clock
`` Oh , perfectly , '' responded the Russian with an ill-concealed sneer -- in fact , it was not concealed at all -- as he turned toward the stairway . When Armitage took up his position near the head of the stairs about nine-thirty o'clock , the house was ablaze with lights , but the lower floors were deserted , save for the servants loitering about the hall . These men , all in the Wellington livery -- short jackets and trousers of navy blue , with old gold cord -- impressed Jack , inasmuch as they suggested in some way a sense of belonging to the household , which they did naturally , and not as servants merely engaged -- or loaned -- for the function . Mrs. Wellington and her husband came down at ten o'clock and took a position near the ballroom door , just as a group of early arrivals trouped up the stairs . Armitage did n't approve of Mrs. Wellington . In her creamy ball gown and tiara and jewels , she was majestic and imperious to a stunning degree , but to the young naval officer -- or shall we say detective -- she suggested for the first time the distinction of caste . The immeasurable distance created by the millions of dollars and the social prestige of Belle Wellington and those like her , served to set them aloof from their countrymen and countrywomen .