about half past nine
No one would be likely to speak on the subject to Herman , and , least of all , was there a probability that the latter would confess that he was aware of what his wife had done . Herman 's condemnation , Fenton said to himself with a shrug , he must , if worst came to worst , endure ; this was to be set down with other unpleasantnesses which belong to the unpleasant conditions of life as they exist in these days . As long as there was no open scandal , he could ignore whatever lay beneath the surface , and he assured himself that in any event it were wisest , as he had long ago learned , to carry things off with a high hand . It was about half past nine when Fenton brought Edith into the gallery . The crowd had by this time become pretty dense , and just inside the door they halted , exchanging greeting with the acquaintances who appeared on every side . The St. Filipe was an old club , and for more than a quarter of a century had maintained the reputation of leading in matters of art and literature . Its influence had , on the whole , been remarkably even and intelligent ; but of late it began to be felt , among those who were radical in their views , that the club was coming under Philistine influence .