midday
Black Strand even at his first visit had appeared to him in the light of a great opportunity , and the crisis of their quarrel did but release that same torrential energy which had carried him to a position of Napoleonic predominance in the world of baking , light catering and confectionery , into the channels of a scheme already very definitely formed in his mind . His first proceeding after the long hours of sleepless passion that had followed his wife 's Hampton Court escapade , had been to place himself in communication with Mr. Brumley . He learnt at Mr. Brumley 's club that that gentleman had slept there overnight and had started but a quarter of an hour before , back to Black Strand . Sir Isaac in hot pursuit and gathering force and assistance in mid flight reached Black Strand by midday . It was with a certain twinge of the conscience that Mr. Brumley perceived his visitor , but it speedily became clear that Sir Isaac had no knowledge of the guilty circumstances of the day before . He had come to buy Black Strand -- incontinently , that was all . He was going , it became clear at once , to buy it with all its fittings and furnishings as it stood , lock , stock and barrel .