one in the morning
They seemed , however , pleasant fellows , and presently he had drifted into conversation with them , or they with him , and with his fair companion -- Jack , as I have said , is extremely cosmopolitan , and picks up all sorts of acquaintances . I could well believe that at a reception such as Gastrell 's he would waive all formality of introduction if he found himself with companionable strangers . Supper over , the four had remained together , and later , when Jack had seen his fair friend safely into a cab , he had rejoined the two strangers , becoming gradually more and more friendly with them . The reception had not ended until past one in the morning , and he and his two acquaintances had been among the last to leave . Having all to go in the same direction , they had shared a taxi , and on arriving at the chambers which the strangers had told him they shared -- these chambers were in Bloomsbury , but Jack had not noticed in what street -- one of the strangers had suggested his coming in for a few minutes before returning to the Russell Hotel , where he had his rooms , which was close by . At first disinclined to do this , he had finally yielded to their persuasion . He had a whiskey-and-soda with them , he said -- he mentioned that the chambers were comfortable and well furnished -- and one of them had then suggested a game of cards .