9 p.m.
Responsibilities were lifted from him . He did not even miss his secretary . Sissie , who returned home -- by a curious coincidence -- on the very day that Mimi Winstock was transferred to Charlie 's service in the Grand Babylon , performed what she called ` secretarial stunts ' for her father as and when required . On the afternoon of the reception , which was timed to begin at 9 p.m. , he had an attack of fright , but , by a process well known to public executants , it passed off long before it could develop into stage-fright ; and he was quite at ease at 9 p.m. . The first arrivals came at nine thirty . He stood by Eve and greeted them ; and he had greeted about twenty individuals when he yawned -LRB- for a good reason -RRB- and Eve said to him : `` You need n't stay here , you know . Go and amuse yourself . ''