seven o'clock
`` Is there any other proposal ? '' There was a murmur of assent as the men rose to their feet . `` Thank you , gentlemen , '' said the secretary . It was a little before seven o'clock on the morning of Saturday that Oliver stepped out of the motor that had carried him to Wimbledon Common , and began to go up the steps of the old volor-stage , abandoned five years ago . It had been thought better , in view of the extreme secrecy that was to be kept , that England 's representative in the expedition should start from a comparatively unknown point , and this old stage , in disuse now , except for occasional trials of new Government machines , had been selected . Even the lift had been removed , and it was necessary to climb the hundred and fifty steps on foot . It was with a certain unwillingness that he had accepted this post among the four delegates , for nothing had been heard of his wife , and it was terrible to him to leave London while her fate was as yet doubtful .