nine o'clock
Rolfe went on into the smoking-room , and read the report of his friend 's misfortune . The Carnabys occupied a house in Hamilton Terrace . During their absence from home last night , there had been a clean sweep of all such things of value as could easily be removed . The disappearance of their housekeeper , and the fact that this woman had contrived the absence of the servants from nine o'clock till midnight , left no mystery in the matter . The clubmen talked of it with amusement . Hard lines , to be sure , for Carnaby , and yet harder for his wife , who had lost no end of jewellery ; but the thing was so neatly and completely done , one must needs laugh . One or two husbands who enjoyed the luxury of a housekeeper betrayed their uneasiness .