nine o’clock in the morning
He just drank his cocktail , mumbled something about being in a hurry , and made off . `` I tell you , sir , '' Mr. Coulson continued , turning to Somerfield , `` that man had n't a thing to say for himself . I guess his work had something to do with it . You must get kind of out of touch with things , shut up in an office from nine o'clock in the morning till five in the afternoon . Just saving up , he was , for his trip to Europe . Then we happened on the same steamer , but , bless you , he scarcely even shook hands when he saw me . He would n't play bridge , did n't care about chess , had n't even a chair on the deck , and never came in to meals . ''