half past three o'clock
He stopped at the corner , and leaned recklessly against a hydrant . He looked at the house with a deliberation that amazed himself . At the same time , as a matter of instinctive caution , he kept his left leg well out toward the side street , so that he might retreat , should the door suddenly open and disclose the seraphic vision . He consulted his large bull 's - eye silver watch -LRB- a capital timekeeper -RRB- , and found that it was half past three o'clock , and he never knew her to be out before four . This reflection emboldened him . `` Faint Heart Ne'er Won Fair Lady , '' he thought again , and brought back his left leg to an easy position , crossing it with his right one against the hydrant . Then he feasted , with strange composure , upon the house .