noon
In his own mind young Barter credited himself with courage when he made overtures for Philip 's companionship . In reality he made the overtures because he was a coward , and a braver scoundrel would have disdained them . Philip felt himself impelled to watch this young man , and was not altogether displeased that he found the opportunity thrust upon him . Almost facing the gateway of the old Inn there is an old-fashioned restaurant , deserted from its hour of opening until noon , and from then crowded inconveniently till two o'clock , deserted again till five , and once more inconveniently crowded till seven . Philip , having the power to choose his own time for meals , and frequenting this old house , sometimes met Barter in the act of coming away from it with the dregs of the stream of the late lunchers or diners . He fell into the habit of going a little earlier , and Barter would signal him to the table at which he sat , if by rare chance there happened to be a vacant seat at it . The young rascal 's tendency lay towards monologue , and since it was his cue to be open-hearted , and very unsuspicious of being suspected , he talked with much freedom of himself , his pursuits , and his affairs .