twenty minutes past seven
This ceremony he went through slowly , as one dazed by a great fall or a heavy fatigue . His servant , a quick , silent man , noticed the strangeness of his manner , and like a wise servant only betrayed the result of his observation by a readier service , a quicker hand , a quieter motion . As Steinmetz went to the drawing-room he glanced at his watch . It was twenty minutes past seven . He still had ten minutes to spare before dinner . He opened the drawing-room door . Etta was sitting by the fire , alone .