nearly ten o'clock
Lister looked about and saw Vernon had not come back . He was studying the plants in a border across the lawn . When Grace had gone Cartwright asked : `` Can you remember the evening of the month and the time when you first saw the girl ? '' Lister fixed the date and added : `` It was nearly ten o'clock . The porter had just gone through the car and when he said my berth was ready I looked at my watch . He went to the next Pullman , and I thought he was getting busy late . '' Cartwright nodded and Mortimer glanced at him sharply , but next moment looked imperturbable .