four in the morning
He had also written a personal letter , commanding the Munich firm to send their most competent expert to Schloss Rothhoefen without delay , to go over the plans with him . As I recall it , he merely referred to me as a rich American who needed advice . They cursed my servants , drank my wines , complained of the food , and had everybody about the place doing errands for them . My butler and footman threatened to leave if they were compelled to continue to serve drinks until four in the morning ; but were somewhat appeased when I raised their wages . Britton surreptitiously thrashed the French valet , and then had to serve Mr. Pless -LRB- to my despair -RRB- for two days while Francois took his time recovering . The motor boat was operated as a ferry after the third day , hustling detectives , lawyers , messengers and newspaper correspondents back and forth across the much be-sung Danube . Time and again I shivered in my boots when these sly-faced detectives appeared and made their reports behind closed doors .