seven o'clock
It was the memorable Tuesday dinner , given in the first place for Dacre Wynne , as a sort of send off before he left for Cairo . In the second Merriton intended to break it gently to the other chaps that he was shortly to become a Benedict . Lester Stark and Tony West , very loyal and proven friends of Nigel Merriton , had arrived the evening before . Dacre Wynne was coming down by the seven o'clock train , Dicky Fordyce , Reginald Lefroy -- both fellow officers of Merriton 's regiment , and home on leave from India -- and mild old Dr. Bartholomew , whom everyone respected and few did not love , and who was in attendance at most of the bachelor spreads in London and out of it , as being a dry old body with a wit as fine as a rapier-thrust , and a fund of delicate , subtle humour , made up the little party . The solemn front door bell of Merriton Towers clanged , and Borkins , very pompous and elegant , flung wide the door . Merriton saw Wynne 's big , broad-shouldered figure swathed in the black evening cloak which he affected upon such occasions , and which became him mightily , and with an opera hat set at the correct angle upon his closely-clipped dark hair , step into the lighted hallway , and begin taking off his gloves . Tony West 's raspy voice chimed out a welcome , as Merriton went forward , his hand outstretched .