nine o'clock at night
He was a tall and handsome man , about forty-five , with an extremely graceful and gentlemanlike carriage . There was a slight dash of negligence in it ; while his manner was fraught with cheerful composure . He looked quite a man of the world ; you would have thought that he could have nothing to do but lounge at his club ; ride round the Park ; saunter into the House of Lords for an hour or two ; and then surrender himself to the pleasures of society . There was not a trace of anxiety or exhaustion about him ; yet had he been engaged during the whole of the preceding day conducting a very great political cause , -LRB- one of high treason , -RRB- not having concluded his reply till nine o'clock at night ! There was a playful smile about his mouth ; his ample forehead seemed unfurrowed by a wrinkle ; and his bright penetrating hazel eyes seemed never the worse for wear with all the tens of thousands of brief sheets on which they had travelled for the last twenty years . `` Ha -- Aubrey -- I 'm a few minutes behind time , I 'm afraid ! -- How are you ? ''