ten o'clock
At this he took fright , drew back into his reserve for the remainder of the meal , and as soon as he decently could , made his excuses and fled to join Iff in the smoking-room ... . He found the little man indulging his two passions ; he was drinking whiskey-and-sodas and playing bridge , both in the most masterly fashion . Staff watched the game a while and then , the opportunity offering , cut in . He played till ten o'clock , at which hour , wearied , he yielded his seat to another , leaving Mr. Iff the victor of six rubbers and twelve whiskey-and-sodas . As Staff went out on deck the little man cut for the seventh and ordered the thirteenth . Neither indulgence seemed to have had any perceptible effect upon him . Staff strolled forward , drinking in air that seemed the sweeter by contrast with the reeking room he had just quitted .