about nine o'clock
Meanwhile , he had his first batch of books for review . There now remained the gathering of wits fixed for the evening . His publisher had asked him to dinner , but he had declined , from a secret and absurd desire to dine at `` The Cock . '' This he gratified , and with his mind full of the spacious times of the early Victorians , he turned into the publisher 's little room about nine o'clock to meet some of the later . There was no great muster as yet . Some half-a-dozen rather shy young men spasmodically picked up strange drawings or odd-looking books , lying about on the publisher 's tables , struggled maidenly with cigars , sipped a little whisky and soda ; but little was said . Among them a pale-faced lad of about fifteen , miraculously self-possessed , stood with his back to the chimney-piece .