nine o'clock
`` You are only wasting your time in going to Mr. Gering , '' he said , as he stood for a moment at the cab door . `` I must waste it , then , '' replied Effie ; `` for , whatever the consequence , I am going . '' `` Then , if you will go , you had better do so early . Gering is always at his office by nine o'clock . George may quite possibly be arrested to-morrow morning , and brought before the magistrates at Bow Street at ten or ten-thirty . When once he is arrested , Mr. Gering can do nothing . The law then takes up the case , and prosecutes on its own account .