eight o'clock
Between six and eight on the previous evening he had seen the members of that `` secret caucus '' whose existence outraged Mr. Chown -- in other words , the half-dozen capable citizens who practically managed the affairs of Liberal Polterham -- and had arrived at an understanding with them which made it all but a settled thing that Denzil Quarrier should be their prospective candidate . Tobias was eager to back out of the engagement into which he had unadvisedly entered . Denzil 's arrival at this juncture seemed to him providential -- impossible to find a better man for their purpose . At eight o'clock an informal meeting was held at the office of the _ Polterham Examiner _ , with the result that Mr. Hammond , the editor , subsequently penned that significant paragraph which next morning attracted all eyes . On returning to supper , Mr. Liversedge found his wife and Denzil in conversation with Eustace Glazzard . With the latter he had a bare acquaintance ; from Denzil 's report , he was disposed to think of him as a rather effeminate old-young man of metropolitan type . `` Well , '' he exclaimed , when greetings were over , `` I do n't think you will want for an audience to-morrow , Denzil .