about eight o’clock at night
He had given up the idea of marrying Madame Midas , as he dare not run the risk of remaining in Australia , but then there were plenty of heiresses in the States he could marry if he chose , so to give her up was a small matter . Another thing , he would be rid of Pierre Lemaire , for once let him put the ocean between him and the dumb man he would take care they never met again . Altogether , M. Vandeloup had taken all precautions to secure his own safety with his usual promptitude and coolness , but notwithstanding that another twelve hours would see him on his way to Sydney en route for the States , he felt slightly uneasy , for as he often said , ` There are always possibilities . ' It was about eight o'clock at night , and Gaston was busy in his rooms packing up to go away next morning . He had disposed of his apartments to Bellthorp , as that young gentleman had lately come in for some money and was dissatisfied with the paternal roof , where he was kept too strictly tied up . Vandeloup , seated in his shirt sleeves in the midst of a chaos of articles of clothing , portmanteaux , and boxes , was , with the experience of an accomplished traveller , rapidly putting these all away in the most expeditious and neatest manner . He wanted to get finished before ten o'clock , so that he could go down to his club and show himself , in order to obviate any suspicion as to his going away .