ten o'clock
It was enough , however . Astrardente had gathered that Casalverde was to fight Spicca the next day , and that the affair begun that morning had not yet reached its termination . He determined that he would not again be guilty of not knowing what was going on in society ; and with the intention of rising early on the following morning , he found Corona , and rather unceremoniously told her it was time to go home . On the next day the Duca d'Astrardente walked into the club soon after ten o'clock . On ordinary occasions that resort of his fellows was entirely empty until a much later hour ; but Astrardente was not disappointed to-day . Twenty or thirty men were congregated in the large hall which served as a smoking-room , and all of them were talking together excitedly . As the door swung on its hinges and the old dandy entered , a sudden silence fell upon the assembly .