morning, about noon
`` If he be anybody , '' said Mr. Waldershare , `` he is sure in time to be known there , for he will be introduced as a visitor . '' At present , however , it turned out that the `` Travellers ''' knew nothing of Colonel Albert ; and time went on , and Colonel Albert was not introduced as a visitor there . After a little while there was a change in the habits of the colonel . One morning , about noon , a groom , extremely well appointed , and having under his charge a couple of steeds of breed and beauty , called at Warwick Street , and the colonel rode out , and was long absent , and after that , every day , and generally at the same hour , mounted his horse . Mr. Rodney was never wearied of catching a glimpse of his distinguished lodger over the blinds of the ground-floor room , and of admiring the colonel 's commanding presence in his saddle , distinguished as his seat was alike by its grace and vigour . In the course of a little time , another incident connected with the colonel occurred which attracted notice and excited interest . Towards the evening a brougham , marked , but quietly , with a foreign coronet , stopped frequently at Mr. Rodney 's house , and a visitor to the colonel appeared in the form of a middle-aged gentleman who never gave his name , and evaded , it seemed with practised dexterity , every effort , however adroit , to obtain it .