eleven o'clock
A man 's a fool who tells you that a pretty woman 's charm is less because her bankers are wondering how they shall get the cheque-book back , and the tradesman round the corner is blotting his ledger with tears . In a way I was in love with Miss Dolly , and would have married her myself upon any provocation ; but before I could make up my mind to it either way , she 'd gone like a flash , and half the bill collectors in London after her . This I learned during the week following the disappearance . She sent for me one day to pick her up at Joran 's Hotel , and when I got there , and the hotel porter had handed out two rugs and a Pomeranian , down comes the chambermaid to say madam had not returned since eleven o'clock . And then I knew by some good instinct that the game was up -- and , handing the Pomeranian back , I said , `` Be good to him , for he 's an orphan . '' This was a surmise -- a surmise and nothing more ; and yet how true it proved ! I had a ` tec with me on the following afternoon , and a pretty tale he had to tell .