nine o’clock
`` I want to get him away from the city . The fact is -- I may as well tell you -- my uncle has taken a great fancy to the boy , and might be induced to adopt him , and cut me off from my rightful inheritance . The boy is an artful young rascal , and has been doing all he could to get into the good graces of my uncle , who is old and weak-minded . '' It was nine o'clock when Nathan Graves left the house , John Wade himself accompanying him to the door . `` How soon do you think you can carry out my instructions ? '' asked Wade . `` To-morrow , if possible . ''