seven o'clock
But it is not necessary that it should reach him before eleven at night , so that you will still have an hour or two before you start in which you can renew your acquaintanceships , as I can very well understand you are anxious to do . '' Dennis Shere 's reluctance , however , was now changed into alacrity . For the road to Olvera ran past the gates of that white-walled , straggling residencía where he had planned to spend this first evening that he was stationed at Ronda . On his way back from his colonel 's quarters he even avoided those squares and streets where he would be likely to meet with old acquaintances , foreseeing their questions as to why he was now a Spanish subject and wore the uniform of a captain of Spanish cavalry and by seven o'clock he was already riding through the Plaza de Toros upon his mission . There , however , a familiar voice hailed him , and turning about in his saddle he saw an old padre who had once gained a small prize for logic at the University of Barcelona , and who had since made his inferences and deductions an excuse for a great deal of inquisitiveness . Shere had no option but to stop . He broke in , however , at once on the inevitable questions as to his uniform with the statement that he must be at Olvera by eleven .