ten at night
-LSB- Illustration -RSB- Cicero and Euripides did not occupy Mr. Pen much for some time after this , and honest Mr. Smirke had a very easy time with his pupil . Rebecca was the animal who suffered most in the present state of Pen 's mind for , besides those days when he could publicly announce his intention of going to Chatteries to take a fencing-lesson , and went thither with the knowledge of his mother , whenever he saw three hours clear before him , the young rascal made a rush for the city , and found his way to Prior 's Lane . He was as frantic with vexation when Rebecca went lame , as Richard at Bosworth , when his horse was killed under him : and got deeply into the books of the man who kept the hunting stables at Chatteries for the doctoring of his own , and the hire of another animal . Then , and perhaps once in a week , under pretense of going to read a Greek play with Smirke , this young reprobate set off so as to be in time for the Competitor down coach , staid a couple of hours in Chatteries , and returned on the Rival which left for London at ten at night . Once his secret was nearly lost by Smirke 's simplicity , of whom Mrs. Pendennis asked whether they had read a great deal the night before , or a question to that effect . Smirke was about to tell the truth , that he had never seen Mr. Pen at all , when the latter 's boot-heel came grinding down on Mr. Smirke 's toe under the table , and warned the curate not to betray him . They had had conversations on the tender subject of course .