eight o'clock
`` Ah , Robin , '' said Alfred , `` it sounds too good to be true . What ? this my last day here ! '' The minutes seemed to creep very slowly till eight o'clock came . Then he easily persuaded David to go to bed ; Hayes went up and unlocked the door for them : it closed with a catch-lock . Hayes was drunk , but full of discipline , and insisted on the patients putting out their clothes ; so Alfred made up a bundle from his portmanteau , and threw it out . Hayes eyed it suspiciously , but was afraid to stoop and inspect it closer : for his drunken instinct told him he would pitch on his head that moment : so he retired grumbling and dangling his key .