five o’clock in the morning
Mannix was a prefect . He had , moreover , disposed of the captain of the Uppingham eleven by a brilliant catch in the long field at a critical moment of an important match . He had been praised in public by no less a person than Mr. Dupré for his excellent influence on the tone of Edmonstone House . He was not prepared to be sworn at and insulted by a red-faced man with hairy hands at five o'clock in the morning . He flushed hotly and replied , `` Damn it all , sir , do n't be an infernal cad . '' The elderly gentleman pushed him again , this time with some violence . Mannix stumbled , got his fishing-rod entangled in the rail of the gangway , swung half round and then fell sideways on the pier .