six o'clock
Within an hour Mr. Wallace arrived ; Diotti told the story of the night . After the undertaker had taken charge of the body he found on the dead man 's neck , just to the left of the chin , a dullish , black bruise which might have been caused by the pressing of some blunt instrument , or by a man 's thumb . Considering it of much importance , he notified the coroner , who ordered an inquest . At six o'clock that evening a jury was impaneled , and two hours later its verdict was reported . On leaving the house of the dead man Diotti walked wearily to his hotel . In flaring type at every street corner he saw the announcement for Thursday evening , March thirty-first , of Angelo Diotti 's last appearance : `` To-night I play for the last time , '' he murmured in a voice filled with deepest regret . The feeling of exultation so common to artists who finally reach the goal of their ambition was wanting in Diotti this morning .