midnight
Sylvia dealt with that witchery of rounded wrists and slim fingers fascinating to men and women alike . Then , cards en règle , passed the make . Plank , cautiously consulting the score , made it spades , which being doubled , Grace led a `` singleton '' ace , and Plank slapped down a strong dummy and folded his great arms . Toward midnight , Sylvia , absorbed in her dummy , fancied she heard the electric bell ringing at the front door . Later , having barely made the odd , she was turning to look at the major , when , beyond him , she saw Leroy Mortimer enter the room , sullen , pasty-skinned , but perfectly sober and well groomed . `` You are a trifle late , '' observed Sylvia carelessly . Grace Ferrall and Marion ignored him .