ten o'clock
The woman turned and threw open the door of the dining-room . Then she struck a match , and lighted a lamp which stood on the table . Sylvia , as is often the case with those who have been much thrown with French people , could understand French much better than she could speak it , and what Madame Wachner had just hissed out in rapid , mumbling tones , surprised and puzzled her . It was quite untrue that she , Sylvia , had to be back at the Villa du Lac by ten o'clock -- for the matter of that , she could stay out as long and as late as she liked . Then , again , although the arrangement that she should come to supper at the Châlet des Muguets to-night had been made that afternoon , the Wachners had been home , but they had evidently forgotten to tell their servant that they were expecting a visitor , for only two places were laid in the little dining-room into which they all three walked on entering the house . Propped up against the now lighted lamp was a letter addressed to Monsieur Polperro in a peculiar , large handwriting . L'Ami Fritz , again uttering that queer guttural exclamation , snatched up the envelope , and hurriedly put it into his breast-pocket .