eleven o’clock
He was a low-voiced man . I spoke a little louder , saying that : No -- I had left the ship for good . `` A free man for a bit , '' was his comment . `` I suppose I may call myself that -- since eleven o'clock , '' I said . Hamilton had stopped eating at the sound of our voices . He laid down his knife and fork gently , got up , and muttering something about `` this infernal heat cutting one 's appetite , '' went out of the room . Almost immediately we heard him leave the house down the verandah steps .