four o'clock
Sir John Devereux Vincent , after a long minority , had at length shaken off his guardians , and become master of his own doings , and of Hurstley Hall . The property was in pretty decent order , and funds had accumulated vastly : all this notwithstanding a thousand peculations , and the suspicious incident that one of the guardians was a `` highly respectable '' solicitor . Sir John , like most new brooms , had with the best intentions resolved upon sweeping measures of great good ; especially also upon doing a great deal with his own eyes and ears ; but , like as aforesaid , he was permitted neither to hear nor see any truths at all . Just now , the usual night 's work took him a little off the hooks , and we must make allowances ; really , too , he was by far the soberest of all those choice spirits , and drank and played as little as he could ; and even , under existing disadvantages , he managed by four o'clock post meridiem to inspect a certain portion of the estate duly every day , under the prudential guidance of his bailiff Jennings . There , that good-looking , tall young fellow on the blood mare just cantering up to us is Sir John ; the other two are a couple of the gallant youths now feasting at the Hall : ay , two of the fiercest foes in last night 's broil . Those heated little matters are easily got over . `` Hollo , Jennings !