nine o'clock
`` I seldom take anything after dinner , except a little negus . '' His brother-in-law said nothing , but made a most eloquent grimace as he turned his face towards his soup-plate . Eames saw it , and could hardly refrain from laughing . When , at half-past nine o'clock , the colonel retired from the room , the earl , as the door was closed , threw up his hands , and uttered the one word `` negus ! '' Then Eames took heart of grace and had his laughter out . The dinner was very dull , and before the colonel went to bed Johnny regretted that he had been induced to dine at Pawkins 's . It might be a very fine thing to be asked to dinner with an earl , and John Eames had perhaps received at his office some little accession of dignity from the circumstance , of which he had been not unpleasantly aware ; but , as he sat at the table , on which there were four or five apples and a plate of dried nuts , looking at the earl , as he endeavoured to keep his eyes open , and at the colonel , to whom it seemed absolutely a matter of indifference whether his companions were asleep or awake , he confessed to himself that the price he was paying was almost too dear .