nine o'clock
He had a fearful suspicion that he should be -- at all events at first -- unsuccessful ; and now that , having taken his determination , he passed in rapid review all their intercourse , he perceived less and less ground for being sanguine ; for he felt that Miss Aubrey 's manner towards him had been throughout more cold and guarded than that of either Mr. or Mrs. Aubrey . Like a prudent general contemplating the contingencies of an important expedition , and calculating his means of encountering them , Gammon considered -- _ persuasion _ failing -- what means of _ compulsion _ had he ? He came , at length , finally to the conclusion , that his resources were most available at that moment ; and , moreover , that his circumstances _ required _ an immediate move . The very next day , about ten o'clock , he sallied forth from his chambers , and bent his steps towards Vivian Street , intending to keep watch for at least a couple of hours , with a view to ascertaining whether Mrs. Aubrey 's going out unaccompanied by Miss Aubrey would afford him an opportunity of seeing Miss Aubrey , alone and undisturbed ; reasonably reckoning on the absence of Mr. Aubrey at the Temple , whither he knew he always went about half-past nine o'clock . That day , however , Mr. Gammon watched in vain ; during the time that he stayed , only the servants and the children quitted the door . The next day he walked deliberately close past the house ; was that brilliant and tasteful performance of the piano , _ hers _ ? Again , however , he was unsuccessful .