nine o'clock
Chester had imagined Sylvia to be staying in a quiet village or little country town . That was the impression her brief letters to him had conveyed , and he was astonished to hear that Lacville maintained so large and constant a train service . Sylvia had written that she would engage a room for him at the boarding-house where she was staying ; and Chester , who was very tired after his long , hot journey , looked forward to a pleasant little chat with her , followed by a good night 's rest . It was nine o'clock when he got into the Lacville train , and again he was vaguely surprised to see what a large number of people were bound for the place . It was clear that something special must be going on there to-night , and that `` the fireworks on the lake '' must be on a very splendid scale . When he arrived at Lacville , he joined the great throng of people , who were laughing and talking , each and all in holiday mood , and hailed an open carriage outside the station . `` To the Villa du Lac ! ''