seven o'clock in the evening
Nancy 's intention had been to allow the restaurant to speak for itself , and then at the climactic moment to allow her connection with it to be discovered , and to speak for it with all the force and earnestness of which she was capable . She had meant to stand sponsor for the practical working theory on which her experiment was based , and she had already partially formulated interviews with herself in which she modestly acknowledged the success of that experiment , but the untoward direction in which it was developing made such a revelation inexpedient . There was one regular patron to whom she was peculiarly anxious to remain incognita . Collier Pratt made it his almost invariable habit to come sauntering toward the table in the corner , under the life-sized effigy of the _ Vênus de Medici _ , at seven o'clock in the evening , and that table was scrupulously reserved for him . To it were sent the choicest of all the viands that Outside Inn could command . Michael was tacitly sped on his way with his teapot full of claret . Gaspard did amazing things with the breasts of ducks and segments of orange , with squab chicken stuffed with new corn , with _ filets de sole a la Marguery _ .