nine o'clock
Her eye was cold and menacing , and Peter , working his way through his vegetables , shuddered for Eve . He had understood her allusion to bridge , having been privileged several times during his stay to see his hostess play that game , and he hoped that there would be no bridge to-night . And this was unselfish of him , for bridge meant sandwiches . Punctually at nine o'clock on bridge nights the butler would deposit on a side-table a plate of chicken sandwiches and -LRB- in deference to Peter 's vegetarian views -RRB- a smaller plate of cheese sandwiches . At the close of play Mrs. Rastall-Retford would take one sandwich from each plate , drink a thimbleful of weak whisky and water , and retire . Peter could always do with a sandwich or two these days . But he was prepared to abandon them joyfully if his hostess would waive bridge for this particular evening .