two o'clock
The Earl 's title-borrowing from Shakespeare was certainly justified by current events , for Dromio of Ephesus and Dromio of Syracuse , to say nothing of their masters , were no bad prototypes of the chief actors in this Bristol comedy . Simmonds , not knowing who might have it in mind to investigate the latest defect in his car , decided it would be wise to disappear until Viscount Medenham was well quit of Bristol . By arrangement with Dale , therefore , he picked up the latter soon after the Mercury was turned over to Medenham 's hands ; in effect , the one chauffeur took the other on a ` bus-driver 's holiday . Dale was free until two o'clock . At that hour he would depart for Hereford and meet his master , with arrangements made for the night as usual ; meanwhile , the day 's programme included a pleasant little run to Bath and back . It was a morning that tempted to the road , but both men had risen early , and a pint of bitter seemed to be an almost indispensable preliminary . From Bristol to Bath is no distance to speak of , so a slight dallying over the beer led to an exchange of recent news .