three o'clock
Such a man , under such misfortunes , may have a house , but he is never in his house ; and has an address where letters may be left ; but only simpletons go with the hopes of seeing him . Only a few of the faithful know where he is to be found , and have the clew to his hiding-place . So , after the disputes with his wife , and the misfortunes consequent thereon , to find Sir Francis Clavering at home was impossible . `` Ever since I hast him for my book , which is fourteen pound , he do n't come home till three o'clock , and purtends to be asleep when I bring his water of a mornin ' , and dodges hout when I 'm down stairs , '' Mr. Lightfoot remarked to his friend Morgan ; and announced that he should go down to my Lady , and be butler there , and marry his old woman . In like manner , after his altercations with Strong , the baronet did not come near him , and fled to other haunts , out of the reach of the chevalier 's reproaches ; out of the reach of conscience , if possible , which many of us try to dodge and leave behind us by changes of scenes and other fugitive stratagems . So , though the elder Pendennis , having his own ulterior object , was bent upon seeing Pen 's country neighbor and representative in Parliament , it took the major no inconsiderable trouble and time before he could get him into such a confidential state and conversation , as were necessary for the ends which the major had in view . For since the major had been called in as family friend , and had cognizance of Clavering 's affairs , conjugal and pecuniary , the baronet avoided him : as he always avoided all his lawyers and agents when there was an account to be rendered , or an affair of business to be discussed between them ; and never kept any appointment but when its object was the raising of money .