nine o'clock
So I told him roundly that it was none of his business , and pushed by him to Parlane 's back-door . But my brusqueness gave no offence to this odd being . He only laughed and cried after me that , if my manners were the equal of my marksmanship , I would be the best lad he had seen since his home-coming . I had dinner with my uncle in the Candleriggs , and sat with him late afterwards casting up accounts , so it was not till nine o'clock that I set out on my way to my lodgings . These were in the Saltmarket , close on the river front , and to reach them I went by the short road through the Friar 's Vennel . It was an ill-reputed quarter of the town , and not long before had been noted as a haunt of coiners ; but I had gone through it often , and met with no hindrance . In the vennel stood a tall dark bit of masonry called Gilmour 's Lordship , which was pierced by long closes from which twisting stairways led to the upper landings .