nine o'clock
`` It WAS a revolver , Mr. Jamieson , '' I admitted , cornered at last , `` but I can not show it to you . It is not in my possession . '' At dinner Mr. Jamieson suggested sending a man out in his place for a couple of days , but Halsey was certain there would be nothing more , and felt that he and Alex could manage the situation . The detective went back to town early in the evening , and by nine o'clock Halsey , who had been playing golf -- as a man does anything to take his mind away from trouble -- was sleeping soundly on the big leather davenport in the living-room . I sat and knitted , pretending not to notice when Gertrude got up and wandered out into the starlight . As soon as I was satisfied that she had gone , however , I went out cautiously . I had no intention of eavesdropping , but I wanted to be certain that it was Jack Bailey she was meeting .