twelve o'clock
Mr. Peacocke bore his position as well as he could , and accompanied him up to the hotel . It was arranged that they should remain two days at St. Louis , and then start for San Francisco by the railway which runs across the State of Kansas . Before he went to bed Lefroy insisted on going into the large hall in which , as is usual in American hotels , men sit and loafe and smoke and read the newspapers . Here , though it was twelve o'clock , there was still a crowd ; and Lefroy , after he had seated himself and lit his cigar , got up from his seat and addressed all the men around him . `` Here 's a fellow , '' said he , `` has come out from England to find out what 's become of Ferdinand Lefroy . '' `` I knew Ferdinand Lefroy , '' said one man , `` and I know you too , Master Robert . '' `` What has become of Ferdinand Lefroy ? ''