nearly four o'clock
Then for several minutes he walked up and down his rooms with his hands in his jacket-pockets , thinking very deeply . He was reflecting how remarkable it was that he should hear of Frank again just at this time , and was wondering what the next move of Providence would be . The rest of Dick 's day was very characteristic of him ; and considering my other personages in this story and their occupations , I take a dramatic sort of pleasure in writing it down . He went out to lunch with a distinguished lady of his acquaintance -- whose name I forbear to give ; she was not less than seventy years old , and the two sat talking scandal about all their friends till nearly four o'clock . The Talgarth affair , even , was discussed in all its possible lights , and Dick was quite open about his own part in the matter . He knew this old lady very well , and she knew him very well . She was as shrewd as possible and extremely experienced , and had helped Dick enormously in various intricacies and troubles of the past ; and he , on the other hand , as a well-informed bachelor , was of almost equal service to her .