eight
o'clock
When he had ridden about all night and discovered nothing , he might just as well have been in bed . And he was continually riding about all night and discovering nothing . After leaving the station on the evening of the day on which he had expressed himself to the women so vehemently respecting Medlicot , he met Bates coming home from his day 's work . It was then past eight o'clock , and the old man was sitting wearily on his horse , with his head low down between his shoulders , and the reins hardly held within his grasp . `` You 're late , Mr. Bates , '' said Harry ; `` you take too much out of yourself this hot weather . '' `` I 've got to move slower , Mr. Heathcote , as I grow older . That 's about it .