nine o'clock
`` All right , '' answered the girl . Bartley went to his supper , which he ate with more relish than he had felt for his meals since his troubles began , and he took part in the supper-table talk with something of his old audacity . The change interested the lady boarders , and they agreed that he must have had a letter . He returned to his office , and worked till nine o'clock , writing and selecting matter out of his exchanges . He spent most of the time in preparing the funny column , which was a favorite feature in the Free Press . Then he put the copy where the girls would find it in the morning , and , leaving the door unlocked , took his way up the street toward Squire Gaylord 's . He knew that he should find the lawyer in his office , and he opened the office door without knocking , and went in .