eleven o'clock
He looked pale , but pooh-poohed injury or the idea of interfering with his audience 's design ; and Mahony saw him shouldered and borne off . That evening there was a lengthy banquet , in which all the notables of the place took part . Mahony 's seat was some way off John 's ; he had to lean forward , did he wish to see his brother-in-law . Towards eleven o'clock , just as he was wondering if he could slip out unobserved , a hand was laid on his arm . John stood behind him , white to the lips . `` Can I have a word with you upstairs ? '' Here he confessed to a knife-like pain in his left side ; the brunt of the blow , it seemed , had met him slantways between rib and hip .