Ten o'clock
It was , therefore , a very pleasant surprise to him when , about a fortnight later , a letter came from Graham announcing that he had succeeded in rescuing close upon five hundred pounds for Mrs Maitland from the ruins of Cuthbertson 's estate , and that the good lady could have the money by presenting herself at the writer 's office and going through certain formalities . It was late in the evening of the day upon which Mrs Maitland , having fulfilled the formalities required of her by Graham , had received from him a cheque for the sum of four hundred and eighty-seven pounds , seventeen shillings , and eightpence , which , apart from the house in which she lived , represented all that remained to her of the very comfortable fortune left to her by her late husband . Dick had escorted his mother up to town , and , upon the conclusion of the transaction , had taken her back to The Cedars ; after which he had made the best of his way to 19 Paradise Street ; for the moment had now arrived when he must come to an understanding with his friend Dr Julian Humphreys , and consult with him respecting the future . Ten o'clock had struck a few minutes ago , a belated patient had been attended to and dismissed , the surgery had been closed by the simple process of drawing down the blind and locking the outer door , and now the two friends were sitting opposite each other in that same drug-scented apartment , conversing earnestly together , as Humphreys pulled contemplatively , yet somewhat vexedly , at a brier pipe which had seen so much service that it was now charred down to about half its original size . `` The fact is , '' remarked Dick , in continuance of their conversation , `` that there is no other course open to me ; for I am resolved that I will not touch a farthing of the money that your friend Graham has so cleverly rescued from the ruins of Cuthbertson 's estate ; every stiver of it will be required for the maintenance of the poor Mater while I am away . And I must go away , because , as you yourself have admitted , there is no employment or occupation of any kind here at home to which , in my present condition of unpreparedness , I could turn my hand with any hope of earning a sufficient income to maintain her and myself , though ever so modestly ; even if posts were to be had for the asking , which -- in this country , at all events -- they are not . You know that to be the plain , unvarnished truth , do you not ? ''