ten o’clock in the evening
A young doctor whose wife took a fancy to Marion tried to make friends with him . The result was unsatisfactory , owing to Hyacinth 's irresponsiveness . He could not , without yawning piteously , spend an evening discussing the performances of the local cricket club ; nor did his conduct improve when the two ladies suspended their talk and sacrificed an hour to playing four-handed halma with their husbands . An unmarried solicitor , attracted by Marion 's beauty and friendliness , adopted the habit of calling at Hyacinth 's little house about nine or ten o'clock in the evening . He was a man full of anecdote and simple mirth , and he often stayed , quite happily , till midnight . Every week he brought an illustrated paper as an offering to Marion , and recommended the short stories in it to her notice . He often asked Hyacinth 's advice and help in solving the conundrums set by the prize editor .