nine o'clock
The meal was soon over , and the first sergeant took the trouble to go up to the boys . `` When do you report at the adjutant 's office ? '' he asked . `` At nine o'clock , Sergeant , '' Hal responded . `` Then , as long as you do n't bother anyone else , you can just as well stroll where you please around the post , until nine , '' continued the sergeant . `` Of course you know that nine o'clock means nine to the very minute ? '' `` We were taught a lot about punctuality at the rendezvous station , '' Hal answered .