ten o'clock
Never were two men more active in the pursuit of pleasure than they . Lord Claud presented himself at the door of many a fine house , never failing to obtain an eager welcome both for himself and his friend . They spent the whole day in a round of amusement , making themselves mightily popular with their companions . They remained until hard upon ten o'clock in one house , and from thence returned straight to their inn , which was already shut up and dark , although the door had been left open for their return . Up to their room they went , and there Lord Claud 's manner suddenly changed . He seemed to throw off his careless gaiety as if it had been a garment , and at once the lines of his face began to change and harden . His eyes gleamed with a steady fire , and his voice lost all its soft indolence of tone .