nearly ten o'clock at night
They were his last words . He pressed Jack 's hand faintly . Then his grasp relaxed , and he fell back a corpse . It was nearly ten o'clock at night , and Mrs. Decker reclined languidly upon the sofa with a novel in her hand , while her husband discussed the politics of the country in the bar-room of the hotel . It was a warm night ; and the French window looking out upon a little balcony was partly open . Suddenly she heard a foot upon the balcony , and she raised her eyes from the book with a slight start . The next moment the window was hurriedly thrust wide , and a man entered .