ten o'clock
Mr. Mitchel was annoyed at not having any notification of whether or not the detective would be present . However , he was compelled to go ahead , and depend upon the slight chance that at the last moment he would appear upon the scene . He hoped that this would occur , as otherwise , his scheme for the evening would be incomplete . The dinner was to be served at ten o'clock that night at Delmonico 's , where a private room had been engaged . It lacked ten minutes of the hour for sitting down , and all the guests had arrived , except Mr. Barnes . These were : Mr. Van Rawlston , Mr. Randolph , Mr. Fisher , Mr. Neuilly , who had decided to spend the winter in New York , Mr. Thauret , and several other gentlemen . It lacked barely half a minute of ten when Mr. Barnes was announced , and entered in handsome evening dress .