noon
There was to be a meeting at his house late in the afternoon for the purpose of signing the ante-nuptial contract already agreed upon . Five o'clock was the hour set for the gathering . Lawyers representing both parties were to be there , with Mrs. Tresslyn , George and Anne , and Mr. Thorpe 's private secretary , who , with Dr. Bates , was to serve as a witness to the instrument . At noon Wade delivered a letter to Miss Tresslyn in which Mr. Thorpe said that he would be pleased if she would accompany him to Tiffany 's for the purpose of selecting a string of pearls . He made it quite clear that she was to go alone with him , playfully mentioning his desire to be the only witness to her confusion when confronted by the `` obsequious salesman and his baubles from the sea . '' If quite agreeable to her he would make an appointment with the jeweller for 3.30 and would call for her in person . After that , he continued , the signing of a contract for life would not seem such a portentous undertaking , and they could go to the meeting with hearts as light as air .