nine o'clock
The man with the keen grey eyes possessed all these qualities , as well as a large chin and a firm mouth , full of very strong white teeth . He also possessed the convenient power of ability to go to sleep at a moment 's notice and to remain in that felicitous condition until he chose to awake . His order to be `` called '' in the morning had reference merely to hot water ; for at the time of which we write men were still addicted to the ridiculous practice of shaving -- a practice which , as every one knows , is now confined chiefly to very old men -- who naturally find it difficult to give up the bad habit of a lifetime -- and to little boys , who _ erroneously _ suppose that the use of a sharp penknife will hasten Nature 's operations . Exactly at nine o'clock , a knock at the door and '' ` Ot water , sir , '' sounded in the ears of Nunber 27 . At half-past nine precisely Number 27 entered the coffee-room , and was so closely followed by the waiter with breakfast that it seemed as if that self-sacrificing functionary had sat up all night keeping the meal hot in order to testify , by excessive punctuality , the devotion of his soul to duty . The keen-eyed man had a keen appetite , if one might judge from appearances in such a matter . A thick underdone steak that overwhelmed his plate appeared to melt away rapidly from before him .