twelve o'clock
David stood , meanwhile , with his arms folded , smiling to himself , and repeating , in a low voice : `` Never again -- never again -- never again . '' By-and-by he reseated himself at his desk , and hurriedly wrote two or three notes , one of which was directed to Miss Saltine . He gave them to his servant with an injunction to deliver them at their addresses during the afternoon . Looking at his watch , he was surprised to find that it was already past twelve o'clock . He went up-stairs , packed a small portmanteau , made some changes in his dress , and came down again with a buoyant step . There was a decanter half full of sherry on the sideboard in the dining-room ; he poured out and drank two glasses in succession . This done , he put on his hat , and left the house with his portmanteau in his hand , and ten minutes later he had intercepted the London coach , and was bowling along on his way to the city .