about eleven o'clock
The brother soothed her by every argument in his power , and , after gently compelling her to dry her tears , expressed his intention of going early the next day to ascertain whether or not any professional man had been engaged to conduct the defence of her unfortunate lover . In effecting this object there was little time lost on the part of young O'Brien . Knowing that two respectable attorneys lived in the next market town , he deemed it best to ascertain whether Fardorougha had applied to either of them for the purposes aforementioned , or , if not , to assure himself whether the old man had gone to any of those pettifoggers , who , rather than appear without practice , will undertake a cause almost on any terms , and afterwards institute a lawsuit for the recovery of a much larger bill of costs than a man of character and experience would demand . In pursuance of the plan concerted between them , the next morning found him rapping , about eleven o'clock , at the door of an attorney named Kennedy , whom he asked to see on professional business . A clerk , on hearing his voice in the hall , came out and requestedm him to step into a back room , adding that his master , who was engaged , would see him the moment he had despatched the person then with him . Thus shown , he was separated from O'Halloran 's office only by a pair of folding doors , through which every word uttered in the office could be distinctly heard ; a circumstance that enabled O'Brien unintentionally to overhear the following dialogue between the parties : `` Well , my good friend , '' said Kennedy to the stranger , who , it appeared , had arrived before O'Brien only a few minutes , `` I am now disengaged ; pray , let me know your business . '' The stranger paused a moment , as if seeking the most appropriate terms in which to express himself .