about
eight o'clock
Mr. and Mrs. Warford descended soon after . They sat down to dinner by the light of the table candles only . Darrow hardly joined at all in the talk , but sat lost in a brown study , from which he only roused sufficiently to accept or refuse the dishes offered him . At about eight o'clock the telephone bell clicked a single stroke , as though the circuit had been closed . At the sound Darrow started , then reached swiftly into his pocket for his little flash-light . He gravely pressed the button of this ; then abruptly rose . `` I must use your telephone , '' said he , without apology .