ten minutes before eight
Jonas was his steward and his valet . While other servants came and went , Jonas was there forever . He followed Enoch upstairs and turned on the bath water , then hurried to lay out evening clothes . During the entire process of dressing the two men did not exchange a word but Jonas heaved a sigh of satisfaction when at ten minutes before eight he opened the hall door . Enoch smiled , patted him on the shoulders and ran down the stairs . A dinner at the British Ambassador 's was always exceedingly formal as to food and service , exceedingly informal as to conversation . Enoch took in a woman novelist , a woman a little past middle age who was very small and very famous .