eight in the morning
my dear fellow , it is nearly nine , and the landlady babbled of green peas at seven-thirty . What with your eternal tobacco , Watson , and your irregularity at meals , I expect that you will get notice to quit , and that I shall share your downfall -- not , however , before we have solved the problem of the nervous tutor , the careless servant , and the three enterprising students . '' Holmes made no further allusion to the matter that day , though he sat lost in thought for a long time after our belated dinner . At eight in the morning , he came into my room just as I finished my toilet . `` Well , Watson , '' said he , `` it is time we went down to St. Luke 's . Can you do without breakfast ? '' `` Certainly . ''