five minutes past nine
Along the corridor , straight for Number Six moved Mrs. Stiffson , Bindle in close attendance , fearful lest he should lose the dramatic intensity of the arrival of `` the wronged wife . '' Unconscious that Nemesis was marching upon him , Mr. Stiffson , stimulated by the coffee , bacon and eggs , and the gay insouciance of Cissie Boye , was finding the situation losing much of its terror for him . No man for long could remain indifferent to the charming personality of Cissie Boye . Her bright chatter and good looks , her innocence , strangely blended with worldly wisdom , her daring garb ; all combined to divert Mr. Stiffson 's mind from the thoughts of his wife , apart from which the clock pointed to five minutes past nine , and Mrs. Stiffson was as punctual as fate . Had he possessed the intuition of a mongoose , Mr. Stiffson would have known that there was a snake in his grass . Instinct guiding her steps , Mrs. Stiffson entered the flat . Instead of turning to the right , in the direction of the bedroom in which Oscar was overdoing the thanksgiving business for bird-seed and water , she wheeled to the left and threw open the sitting-room door .