nine o'clock
But it has n't . '' Church parade was over , and quiet reigned in the camp of the Fourth Battalion Blankshire Regiment , which was undergoing its annual training at Aldershot . A young man in civilian clothes sat at breakfast in the officers ' mess - tent . He was a visitor and guest , who had no obligation to early rising , so he lay snug till the band , marching the Church of Englanders off at nine o'clock , roused him and then performed a leisurely toilet . And now he , the subaltern of the day , and the officer who was to take the Roman Catholics , had the tent to themselves . The former was some distance off , the latter sat next to him . `` I came only just in time for mess yesterday , so we had no opportunity for a private chat , '' said the one in plain clothes .