nine o'clock
`` I thought such men had died with Cooper ! '' Thorpe whirled sharp on his heel and returned at once to a boarding-house off Fort Street , where he had `` outfitted '' three months before . There he reclaimed his valise , shaved , clothed himself in linen and cheviot once more , and sauntered slowly over to the Land Office to await its opening . At nine o'clock neither of the partners had appeared . Thorpe entered the office and approached the desk . `` Is there a telegram here for Harry Thorpe ? '' he inquired .