eight o'clock
I had not been there more than six months , however , when something happened that made the ease of apartment life seem somewhat less desirable . That is , my rooms were broken open during my absence , over night on a little canoeing trip to Henley , and about everything valuable in my possession was removed , including the truly regal pepper-pots sent me by his Majesty the King of Spain , that I had carelessly left standing upon my sideboard . `` Until last week , '' the General continued , `` nor hide nor hair of any of my stolen possessions was every discovered , but last Thursday night I accepted the invitation of a gentleman well known in this country as a leader of finance , a veritable Captain of Industry , the soul of honor and one of the most genial hosts imaginable . I sat down at his table at eight o'clock , and , will you believe me , gentlemen , one of the first objects to greet my eye upon the brilliantly set napery was nothing less than one of my lost pepper - pots . There was no mistaking it . Unique in pattern , it was certain of identification anyhow , but what made it the more certain was the cipher ` A.R. to C.C. ' '' `` And of course you claimed it ? '' asked Dozyphrase .