about nine o’clock in the morning
In a few minutes Biffen took possession of an underground room furnished as a bedchamber , which he agreed to rent for a week . His landlord was not ungracious , and went so far as to supply him with warm water , that he might in a measure cleanse himself . This operation rapidly performed , the hapless author flung himself into bed , and before long was fast asleep . When he went upstairs about nine o'clock in the morning he discovered that his host kept an oil-shop . ` Lost everything , have you ? ' asked the man sympathetically . ` Everything , except the clothes I wear and some papers that I managed to save .