7 a.m.
as the blackbird said , who was `` blowing his bugle to one far bright star . '' Old , prosaic , and often tearful , though this earth may be , few are anxious to hasten their departure from it , and Daniel Prendergast , Esq. , M.P. , abetted by the ministrations of that able consultant , Dr. Mangan , `` hung on , '' as his friends put it , with unexpected tenacity to his share of the world . And , so far reaching are the etheric cords that are said to bind us all together , Mr. Prendergast 's grip of his sorry and suffering life bestowed upon Larry and Christian three days to be spent within the confines of Paradise . This may seem an over-statement when it is recorded that their next meeting was at 7 a.m. at a cubbing meet of the hounds , which occurred on the morning following on Larry 's discovery that the _ entrée _ to Paradise had been his for the asking ; it is , however , no more than the truth . Christian had exacted a promise from him that no word was to be said to any other of the high contracting parties until Monday , and , as they rode in at the Castle Ire gates , the matter was still under debate . `` Three days we must have , just three , with this secret hidden between us like a pearl in an oyster-shell ! Larry , you know _ I _ can keep a secret ! ''