eight o'clock
Usually he went home early in the night as he always went to town early in the morning . The occasions were not infrequent when he could smile grimly and pityingly upon one or more of his companions of the night before as they passed him on their belated way home long after dawn . It was then that Hawkins drew himself a trifle more erect , added a bit of elasticity to his notably springy stride , and congratulated himself warmly on being what he was . Soon after eight o'clock on the night of the great blizzard , Hawkins forsook the companionship of the disgruntled coterie downstairs and retired to his library on the fifth floor . His suite consisted of three rooms -- and a bath , as they say when they talk of letting them to you . There was a library , a bed chamber and a parlour with broad couches against two of the walls . Sometimes Hawkins had friends to stay all night with him .