eight o'clock
Night fell as he sat reading the scores . He would have liked to try certain pieces on his flute . But his flute was too sensitive , it winced from the new strange surroundings , and would not blossom . Dinner sounded at last -- at eight o'clock , or something after . He had to learn to expect the meals always forty minutes late . Down he went , down the long , dark , lonely corridors and staircases . The dining room was right downstairs .