eleven o'clock
How Mr. Berwin lived all alone in the Silent House without servant or companion ; how he spoke to none , and admitted no one into the mansion ; how he appeared to have plenty of money , and was frequently seen coming home more or less intoxicated ; and how Mrs. Kebby , the deaf charwoman who cleaned out Mr. Berwin 's rooms , declined to sleep in the house because she considered that there was something wrong about her employer . To such gossip Denzil paid little attention , until his skein of life became unexpectedly entangled with that of the strange gentleman . The manner of their meeting was unforeseen and peculiar . One foggy November night , Lucian , returning from the theatre , shortly after eleven o'clock , dismissed his hansom at the entrance to the square and walked thereinto through the thick mist , trusting to find his way home by reason of two years ' familiarity with the precincts . As it was impossible to see even the glare of the near gas lamp in the murky air , Lucian felt his way cautiously along the railings . The square was filled with fog , dense to the eye and cold to the feel , so that Lucian shivered with the chill , in spite of the fur coat over his evening clothes . As he edged gingerly along , and thought longingly of the fire and supper awaiting him in his comfortable rooms , he was startled by hearing a deep , rich voice boom out almost at his feet .