eleven
o'clock
Now , Gammon had for three weeks running disappointed the numerous readers of the _ Sunday Flash _ , during which period , also , he had been almost baited to death upon the subject by old Quirk , the chief proprietor of the paper ; and that very evening , the odious VIPER , its editor , had been there , as it were , writhing and hissing about him till he had given a positive pledge to prepare an article against the ensuing Saturday . All these things put together , were enough for one strong-headed man to bear up against , and Gammon felt very nearly overwhelmed ; and the reader will think it very excusable in Mr. Gammon , that he felt such difficulty in commanding his thoughts even to the interesting task of settling the draft of his own rent-charge on the Yatton property . He was not quite satisfied with the way in which Frankpledge had tinkered up the '' _ consideration _ '' shadowed forth in Gammon 's instructions , and was just sketching off one compounded of a `` certain sum of five thousand pounds of good and lawful money of Great Britain , by the aforesaid Oily Gammon , at or before the execution of these presents , paid to the said Tittlebat Titmouse , and the receipt whereof the said Titmouse thereby acknowledged , and from the same and every part thereof , released and discharged the said Oily Gammon , his heirs , executors , administrators and assigns '' -LRB- !!! -RRB- and also `` of the great skill , and exertion , and sacrifices of the said Oily Gammon , for and on behalf of the said Tittlebat Titmouse , in and in respect of the recovery of the Yatton property , '' & c. & c. I say he had just finished off this little matter , and was varying one or two of the expressions , when a sharp knock at his door announced the arrival of the intelligent grantor of the aforesaid annuity , Mr. Titmouse himself , whose stylish cab was at that moment standing opposite to the entrance to Thavies ' Inn , in Holborn , having brought him direct from the House of Commons , whither , however , he was to return by eleven o'clock , till which time he had paired off , in order to enable him to come and consult Mr. Gammon on one or two important matters . Poor Titmouse had conceived , since his memorable interview with Gammon , formerly related , a violent hatred of Mr. Gammon ; but which was almost absorbed in his dread of that gentleman , who had such unlimited power over him . The sudden and serious diminution of his income by Gammon 's rent-charge , almost turned his head upside-down , and occasioned a pother in his little bosom , which was all the greater for his being unable to admit any sympathizing friend into his confidence . He had become fidgety and irritable to a degree ; his countenance and demeanor troubled and depressed ; from all which , the more intimate among his brother senators naturally inferred that he had lost large sums at play , or was harassed by his election expenses ; or had quarrelled with his mistress , or been found out by his wife ; or been kicked , and dared not call out the aggressor ; or that some other such accident as frequently happens to young gentlemen of fashion , had befallen him .