nine o'clock
In this prayer Mrs. Springatt joined ; and so these two worthy people parted . What business Billings was about can not be said ; but he was this night bound towards Marylebone Fields , as he was the night before for the Strand and Westminster ; and , although the night was very stormy and rainy , as the previous evening had been fine , old Wood good-naturedly resolved upon accompanying him ; and forth they sallied together . Mrs. Catherine , too , had HER business , as we have seen ; but this was of a very delicate nature . At nine o'clock , she had an appointment with the Count ; and faithfully , by that hour , had found her way to Saint Margaret 's churchyard , near Westminster Abbey , where she awaited Monsieur de Galgenstein . The spot was convenient , being very lonely , and at the same time close to the Count 's lodgings at Whitehall . His Excellency came , but somewhat after the hour ; for , to say the truth , being a freethinker , he had the most firm belief in ghosts and demons , and did not care to pace a churchyard alone . He was comforted , therefore , when he saw a woman muffled in a cloak , who held out her hand to him at the gate , and said , `` Is that you ? ''