about eight o'clock
When he was thus deeply engaged , his face had a hard , stern aspect ; if by chance his eye wandered for a moment , its look seemed to express resentment of interruption . At length he threw himself back with a sudden yielding to weariness , crossed his legs , sank together in the chair , and for half-an-hour brooded darkly . A fit of yawning admonished him that it was time to quit the atmosphere of study . He betook himself to a restaurant in the Strand , and thence about eight o'clock made his way to Staple Inn , where the journalist gave him cheerful welcome . ` Day after day I have meant to write , ' thus he excused himself . ` But I had really nothing to say . ' ` You do n't look any better for your holiday , ' Earwaker remarked .