ten o'clock
He went on the pier , and met more than one pair of bright eyes , but not Cynthia 's . Then he made off in a fume to Dale 's lodging , secured a linen dust-coat which the man happened to have with him , returned to the hotel , and hurried unseen to his room , an easy matter in the Royal Bath , where many staircases twine deviously to the upper floors , and brilliantly decorated walls dazzle the stranger . He counted on the exigencies of Lady Porthcawl 's toilette stopping a too early appearance in the morning , and he was right . At ten o'clock , when Cynthia and Mrs. Devar came out , the men lounging near the porch were too interested in the girl and the car to bestow a glance on the chauffeur . Ducrot was there , bland and massive in a golf suit . He pestered Cynthia with inquiries as to the exact dates when her father would be in London , and Medenham did not hesitate to cut short the banker 's awkward gallantries by throwing the Mercury into her stride with a whirl . `` By Jove , Ducrot , '' said someone , `` your pretty friend 's car jumped off like a gee-gee under the starting gate . ''