eight o'clock
Even Homer used to nod at times . So Pringle contented himself with reading through the poem , which consisted of some thirty lines , and copying the same down on a sheet of notepaper for future reference . After which he went to bed . In order to arrive at Beckford in time for morning school , he had to start from the house at eight o'clock punctually . This left little time for poetical lights . The consequence was that when Lorimer , on the following afternoon , demanded the poem as per contract , all that Pringle had to show was the copy which he had made of the poem in the book . There was a moment 's suspense while Conscience and Sheer Wickedness fought the matter out inside him , and then Conscience , which had started on the encounter without enthusiasm , being obviously flabby and out of condition , threw up the sponge .