seven o’clock
I had returned to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker Street rooms , although I continually visited him and occasionally even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come and visit us . My practice had steadily increased , and as I happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington Station , I got a few patients from among the officials . One of these , whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease , was never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence . One morning , at a little before seven o'clock , I was awakened by the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room . I dressed hurriedly , for I knew by experience that railway cases were seldom trivial , and hastened downstairs . As I descended , my old ally , the guard , came out of the room and closed the door tightly behind him . `` I 've got him here , '' he whispered , jerking his thumb over his shoulder ; `` he 's all right . ''