four o'clock
precisely
You could not well get away till the evening of to-morrow at any rate , on account of the tide , and it will be safer and more pleasant to start early on the day after . '' `` I shall be most happy , '' replied the captain heartily . `` That 's right , '' said Stanley . `` Dinner will be ready by four o'clock precisely ; and give my compliments to your crew , and say that my men will expect them all to dinner at the same hour . '' Ten minutes after this , Stanley entered his private apartment in the fort , which , under the tasteful management of his wife , was beginning to look elegant and comfortable . `` Wife , '' said he , `` I will order La Roche to send you a box of raisins and an unlimited supply of flour , butter , etcetera , wherewith you will be so kind as to make , or cause to be made -- on pain of my utmost displeasure in the event of failure -- a plum-pudding large enough to fill the largest sized washing-tub , and another of about quarter that size ; both to be ready boiled by four to-morrow afternoon . '' `` Sir , your commands shall be obeyed .