a few minutes before eight
o'clock
`` I 'm no singer , '' said Brook , `` but I know a few rather taking conjuring tricks , and I should like to go with you ; but perhaps it would be hardly prudent to leave the ladies without any protection , would it ? Therefore I think I 'll remain to-night , and go some other evening if there 's going to be any repetition of this sort of thing . '' Mr Dale said nothing ; he simply sat moodily plucking at his beard and muttering to himself ; by the look of his countenance he was utterly disgusted with the whole proceeding . Thus , then , it was finally arranged , and at a few minutes before eight o'clock , Lance and his party issued from the hut on their way to the assembly-room , which they could see was already brilliantly lighted up . On entering the assembly-room , our friends found that it was not only , as they had seen from the outside , well lighted , but that a very successful attempt had been made to decorate it by the draping of flags all round the walls , and the arrangement of an elaborate and well - designed flag-trophy on the wall at the back of the elevated platform , or stage , as it may be called . The long table , with its accompaniment of chairs , had been pushed back against the wall , and the pianoforte stood in the centre of the platform . The room was quite full , and the men appeared , for the most part , disposed to behave quietly and decorously .