early in the evening,
about eight o'clock
he inquired . `` Too many , by far . '' The young man took a turn about the room and came back to the fire . Standing by the mantel he lit another cigarette before going on with his story : `` The second visitation happened in the street , early in the evening , about eight o'clock . I was held up in a traffic block before the Plaza . My chauffeur was driving . Old Nibbs steps up out of the crowd , opens the door of my car , gets in and sits down beside me .