half past nine
An anxious , uncomfortable gnawing sense of expectancy dominated him . How ridiculous for a woman to be so late ! What cook could do justice to his dishes if they were thus to be kept waiting ? She could n't possibly have _ ordered _ it for half past nine , surely ! Gradually , as that hour passed and his second cup of coffee had been sipped to its finish , Paul felt a sickening sense of anger and disappointment . He got up abruptly and went out . In the hall , coming from the corridor of her rooms , he met the lady face to face .