seven o'clock
`` There is a steamer sailing this evening for South America , '' I said . `` Yes , signor ; with many passengers from this hotel . '' `` At what time ? '' `` At seven o'clock -- even now . '' A minute later I was driving down to the docks -- my swimming head full of half-matured ideas of bribing some one to delay the steamer . Then came the blessed reflection that , in the absence of Miste , his confederate would certainly not depart alone . I knew enough of their tactics to feel sure that instead of taking passage in the steamer this man -LRB- who could only be a subordinate to that master in cunning who had shot me -RRB- must perforce await his chief 's arrival .