eleven o'clock
Nor was he long in collecting round him guests , who not only tolerated , but professed infinite delight in , such entertainments -- `` fit audience , _ nor _ few '' -- consisting principally of those adventurous gentlemen who have entered Parliament in a devout reliance on Providence to find them dinners . ' T was only in such society as this that Titmouse could feel the least sense of enjoyment , and from which Lady Cecilia altogether absented herself , often without deigning the slightest reason , excuse , or apology . In fact , the intemperate habits and irregular hours of Titmouse , soon rendered it necessary that he and the Lady Cecilia should occupy separate sleeping apartments ; for either his club , the House , or his other engagements , kept him out till a very late -- or rather early -- hour every morning . It was about half-past eleven o'clock one day towards the latter end of June , that Mr. Titmouse , having finished breakfast , -LRB- which was surely very early , since he had not gone to bed till four o'clock that morning , -RRB- a meal to which he invariably sat down alone , often not catching a glimpse of Lady Cecilia during the day , except on a chance encounter in the hall , or on the stairs , or when they were forced to go out to dinner together -- had entered his library , to enjoy undisturbed the luxury of his hookah . The apartment was spacious and handsome . All the sides of it were occupied by very curious antique carved oak bookcases , which had belonged to the former tasteful occupant of the house , and from whom they had been purchased by Titmouse , who then bethought himself of procuring books to fill them . For this purpose , it luckily occurred to him , on seeing an advertisement of a library for sale by auction one day , that it would be a good speculation to be beforehand with the expected audience , and purchase the aforesaid library in a lump by private contract .