seven o'clock
Keep it up . '' Richard read and re-read the four words , and it must be confessed felt somewhat ashamed at the good they did him -- being the first words of encomium that had ever come his way . They confirmed his ambition ; he had found a pleasant , unexpected window from which to reconsider existence . It was seven o'clock and Richard sat turning over a pile of papers which related to the purchase of the _ Daily Tory _ ; they had been left by Mr. Gwynn . These he compared with a letter or two that had just come in . `` What a fool and old rogue it is ! '' cried Richard disgustedly .