About midnight
Wilfrid , having committed himself to an engagement , loitered about in his dressing-room for a while , then , without seeing his father , betook himself to his club and dined there . After passing the early part of the evening in an uncomfortable way , with the help of newspapers and casual conversation , he went home again and shut himself in his study . He sat long , without attempting to do anything . About midnight he rose as if to leave the room , but , instead of doing so , paced the floor for a few minutes ; then he opened a certain drawer in his writing-table , and took out the morocco case which contained Emily 's letters . He slipped off the band . The letters were still in their envelopes , and lay in the order in which he had received them . He drew forth the first and began to read it .