six o'clock
There had been a certain satisfaction in being in the same house with her , but Delamere had arrived in time to share or , more correctly , to monopolize , the sunshine of her presence . Delamere gave a plausible excuse which won Clara 's pardon and another enchanting smile , which pierced Ellis like a dagger . He knew very well that Delamere 's excuse was a lie . Ellis himself had been ready as early as six o'clock , but judging this to be too early , had stopped in at the Clarendon Club for half an hour , to look over the magazines . While coming out he had glanced into the card-room , where he had seen his rival deep in a game of cards , from which Delamere had evidently not been able to tear himself until the last moment . He had accounted for his lateness by a story quite inconsistent with these facts . The two young people walked over to a window on the opposite side of the large room , where they stood talking to one another in low tones .