Eight o'clock
And that is why I 've been looking for you ... . Conforming to his custom , he 's giving an advance glimpse of the production to the critics and a few friends in the form of a final grand dress-rehearsal to-night . Again , in conformance with his custom , he has honoured me with a bid . I 've been chasing you all day to find out if you 'd care to go -- '' `` Eight o'clock and a bit after , '' Whitaker interrupted briskly , consulting his watch . `` Here , boy , '' he hailed a passing page ; `` call a taxicab for me . '' And then , rising alertly : `` Come along ; I 've got to hustle home and make myself look respectable enough for the occasion ; but at that , with luck , I fancy we 'll be there before the first curtain . '' This mood of faith , of self-reliance and assured optimism held unruffled throughout the dash homewards , his hurried change of clothing and the ride to the theatre .