seven o’clock
Mat opened the box for an instant , on his way to the barber 's ; and , taking out the false key , -LRB- which , though made of baser metal , was almost as bright as the original -RRB- , put it carefully into his waistcoat pocket . He then stopped at an oil and candle shop , and bought a wax taper and a box of matches . `` The garden door 's safest : I 'll chance it with the garden-door , '' thought Mat , as he sat down in the shaving-shop chair , and ordered the barber to operate on his chin . Punctually at seven o'clock Mr. Blyth 's visitors rang at his bell . When they entered the studio , they found Valentine all ready for them , with his drawing-board at his side , and his cartoon-sketch for the proposed new picture of Hercules bringing to King Eurystheus the Erymanthian Boar , lying rolled up at feet . He said he had got rid of his headache , and felt perfectly well now ; but Zack observed that he was not in his good spirits . Mat , on his side , observed nothing but the garden door , towards which he lounged carelessly as soon as the first salutations were over .