one o'clock
I said , with pretended amazement . `` Ye 'd gamble on the flight of angels -- '' `` Ye 're speaking of some one else , maybe , '' I suggested . `` And ye drink more than ye should , -- but you 're my own man where the women are concerned ; for never since I knew ye , -- and that 's ever since ye were born , -- have I seen ye look with wanting at maid , wife , or widow , and ye 're wise in that , '' he added in a tone whose bitterness came from the unhappiness of his own wedded life . To put the talk into a brighter channel , I hastened to suggest a fourth and fifth companion for the cruise , upon which we fell to passing judgment on the companionable men of our acquaintance , weighing their congeniality to us and to each other until one o'clock was past before we set about the business of delivering our invitations . Offering to accompany Sandy on these errands , I thought I heard a groan , and on leaving the dining-room I made sure of another , and on the instant knew that they came from Huey MacGrath . This expedition falling so quickly on the heels of his warning was an odd occurrence and for some reason , perhaps in remembrance of my recent assertion that I had no heart to leave Stair , there fell a funny performance between us . He handed me my cap and coat , determined to catch my eye , and I , having no desire to see the reproach which his glance contained , was equally set to avoid it ; so that I received my cap with my eyes on my boots , my gloves with an averted head , and my riding-stick looking out of the doorway , and mounted my horse with no small resentment in my breast at this surveillance from a servant which would never be borne in any spot outside of Scotland .