eight o'clock
From his coat pocket he slyly extracted a shining revolver . Three minutes before it had been in David Jenison 's pocket . `` He 's better off without a thing like this , '' mused the clever philosopher . Thomas Braddock rang the door-bell at the Portman home shortly after eight o'clock . He was perfectly calm and in full possession of himself . A brisk manservant opened the door and faced the strange caller . `` I want to see Mrs. Braddock , '' said the man in the vestibule .