eight o'clock
Mr. Allen sent for Fox , but he could not be found . In the meantime the stock market closed and the rise of his stock was evidently checked for the moment . By reason of the party , Mr. Allen had to return uptown , but he arranged with his partner to remain and if anything new developed to send word by special messenger . By eight o'clock the Allen mansion on Fifth Avenue was all aglow with light . By nine , carriages began to roll up to the awning that stretched from the heavy arched doorway across the sidewalk , and ladies that would soon glide through the spacious rooms in elegant drapery , now seemed misshapen bundles in their wrapping , and gathered up dresses as they hurried out of the publicity of the street . The dressing-rooms where the spheroidal bundles were undergoing metamorphose became buzzing centres of life . Before the long pier glasses there was a marshalling of every charm , real or borrowed -LRB- more correctly bought -RRB- , in view of the hoped-for conquests of the evening , and it would seem that not a few went on the military maxim that success is often secured by putting on as bold a front , and making as great and startling display , as possible .