eleven o'clock
Thus he thought as he went along ; and imagination pictured his next parting from her he loved , and all that was to follow it -- the grief that she would suffer as well as himself -- the long dreary lapse of sad and cheerless hours that was to fill up the remainder of existence for him , with all happy hopes at an end , and fortune , station , love , gone away like visions of the night . Early on the ensuing morning , he despatched a note to the Tower , telling Laura that business , affecting her father 's safety , would keep him away from her at the hour he had promised to visit her . He would be with her , he said , at all events before nightfall ; and he added every term of love and affection that his heart suggested ; but at the same time he could not prevent a tone of sadness spreading through his letter , which communicated to Laura a fear lest her father 's hopes of escape should be frustrated . By eleven o'clock Wilton was at the door of the small inn named for the meeting ; and two handsome horses which were standing there , held by a servant , announced that Green had arrived before him . On going in , he found his strange friend far more splendidly dressed than he had ever seen him , apparently waiting for his coming . His fine person told to much advantage , his upright carriage and somewhat proud and stern demeanour , the grave and thoughtful look of his eye , all gave him the appearance of one of high mind and high station , accustomed to action and command . A certain sort of gay and dissipated look , which he had previously borne , was altogether gone : within the last few months he had become paler and thinner , and his countenance had assumed an air of gloom which did not even leave it when he laughed .