nine o'clock
The customers at the table exchanged glances silently . Davidson 's attitude was that of a spectator . Schomberg 's moody pacing of the billiard-room could be heard on the veranda . `` And the funniest part is , '' resumed the man who had been speaking before -- an English clerk in a Dutch house -- `` the funniest part is that before nine o'clock that same morning those two were driving together in a gharry down to the port , to look for Heyst and the girl . I saw them rushing around making inquiries . I do n't know what they would have done to the girl , but they seemed quite ready to fall upon your Heyst , Davidson , and kill him on the quay . '' He had never , he said , seen anything so queer .