They also wore clock masks, but in their case the hands were in a different position⁠—four o’clock and five o’clock respectively.

Both men were in evening dress⁠—but with a difference. One was an elegant, slender young man wearing evening clothes of exquisite cut.

The grace with which he moved was foreign rather than English. The other man could be better described as wiry and lean. His clothes fitted him sufficiently well, but no more, and Bundle guessed at his nationality even before she heard his voice.

“I reckon we’re the first to arrive at this little meeting.”

A full pleasant voice with a slight American drawl, and an inflection of Irish behind it.

The elegant young man said in good, but slightly stilted English: