eight o'clock
Mr. Parsons greeted him heartily and invited him into his private room . Here Quincy told the arrangement that he had made with young Chisholm , and gave him the password . `` Do n't stint them , '' said Quincy , `` let them have a good time ; but do n't let anybody know who pays for it . I shall be down on the half-past seven express , Monday night , and I would like to have a nice little dinner for eight or nine people ready in your private dining-room at eight o'clock . Mr. Tobias Smith knows who my guests are to be , and if I am delayed from any cause , he will tell you who are entitled to go in and eat the dinner . '' The next train to Boston was due in ten minutes , and shaking hands with the hotel proprietor , he made his way quickly to the station . As he reached the platform he noticed that Abner Stiles was just driving away ; the thought flashed through his mind that somebody from Mason 's Corner was going to the city ; but that was no uncommon event , and the thought passed from him .