nearly ten o'clock
He asked the waiter if there were many people staying there . His tone of voice sounded as if he sincerely hoped there were not , and the waiter tactfully submitted that the place was almost empty . Micky proceeded with his supper . It was nearly ten o'clock , but he went out into the lounge when he had finished and sat down at a table in one of the most secluded corners . There were pen and ink and a supply of hotel note paper , which Micky looked at with great satisfaction , before he took up a pen , carefully examined the nib , squared his elbows and began to write . `` My darling -- '' Micky wrote the words hurriedly and covered them over with a sheet of blotting paper as if they made him feel guilty . `` I thought I should have been leaving Paris before now , but have been delayed .