nine o'clock
He had the discomforting sense that he was doing something disloyal to Terry . Heaven knew what promises might not be exacted from him before the evening ended . When would it end ? He would have to stay for at least an hour after coffee -- that would bring him to nine o'clock . Sir Tobias Beddow would have been expecting him long before that to deliver his account of the result of his mission . Furthermore , Sir Tobias would be demanding an explanation as to how it was that , having asked for Terry 's hand the night before , he was still unengaged to her . If he postponed the interview till to-morrow , it would create the appearance of lukewarmness .