five o'clock
Having paid my respects to the lady of the house , I retired to dress , as dinner was nearly ready , it being then half-past seven o'clock . It was eight before we sat down . To an observation that I made , expressing a hope that I had not occasioned the dinner being put off , Willemott replied , `` On the contrary , my dear Reynolds , we never sit down until about this hour . How people can dine at four or five o'clock , I can not conceive . I could not touch a mouthful . '' The dinner was excellent , and I paid it the encomiums which were its due . `` Do not be afraid , my dear fellow -- my cook is an _ artiste extraordinaire _ -- a regular _ Cordon Bleu _ .