Eight o'clock
A few minutes more and the tables were cleared . Another minute , and the bags were being carried out . Thirty red vans outside gaped to receive them . Eight o'clock struck , whips cracked , wheels rattled , the eight o'clock mail was gone , and there was not a single letter left in the great sorting-room of St. Martin 's - le-Grand ! `` I was right , you see , '' said Mr Bright . `` You were right , '' responded Miss Lillycrop . They descended and crossed the now unencumbered floor .