nine o'clock
His immediate object was to place himself among his equals , and his next purpose was to marry again , in his new rank , a woman of good position and fortune . Of this matter he intended to speak to the prince in due time , when he should have secured the first requisite to his marriage by establishing himself firmly in society . He meant to apply to the prince , ostensibly as to the head of the family , thereby showing a deference to that dignity , which he supposed would be pleasing to the old gentleman ; but he had not forgotten in his calculations the pride which old Saracinesca must naturally feel in his race , and which would probably induce him to take very great pains in finding a suitable wife for San Giacinto rather than permit the latter to contract a discreditable alliance . San Giacinto left the house at half-past nine o'clock , under the pretext of another engagement , for he did not mean to weary his relations with too much of his company in the first instance . When he was gone the three looked at each other in silence for some moments . `` He has surprisingly good manners , for an innkeeper , '' said Corona at last . `` No one will ever suspect his former life .