nine o'clock
`` Why should it ? '' grunted Norman . `` When your journey may mean a year 's delay in getting back , what 's a few minutes more or less in starting out ? '' It was far after nine o'clock and the sun was dropping behind the southern hills -- the air chillier and the fog deeper , when Paul finally appeared . His boisterous manner was all the testimony needed to indicate how he had spent the evening . With him was his friend , the sergeant of police . He had undoubtedly been with his new comrade to celebrate the departure , but the dignified officer , being now in the field of duty , gave few signs of personal indiscretions .