noon
When he had secured a bed at a small public house near the Great Western railway station , -- thinking , no doubt that he would go to the great hotel on his next coming to town , should he then have obtained the lady 's fortune , -- he scarcely knew what step he would next take . Margaret 's last letter had been written to him from the Cedars , but he thought it probable that she might only have gone there for a day or two . He knew the address of the house in Gower Street , and at last resolved that he would go boldly in among the enemy there ; for he was assured that the family of the lady 's late brother were his special enemies in this case . It was considerably past noon when he reached London , and it was about three when , with a hesitating hand , but a loud knock , he presented himself at Mrs Mackenzie 's door . He first asked for Miss Mackenzie , and was told that she was not staying there . Was he thereupon to leave his card and go away ? He had told himself that in this pursuit of the heiress he would probably be called upon to dare much , and if he did not begin to show some daring at once , how could he respect himself , or trust to himself for future daring ?