eight o'clock
I saw by Terry 's face that he was far from considering the incident closed ; but he had too much true Irish tact to try and get us through by storming . `` Let us consider , '' he began , `` whether there is not some means of escape from this difficulty . '' But Dalmar-Kalm was in no mood to temporize , or keep silent while others temporized . The lights of Breil showed that it was a town of comparative importance ; it was past eight o'clock ; and no doubt His Highness 's temper was sharpened by a keen edge of hunger . That he -- he should be stopped by a fussy official figure-head almost within smell of food , broke down the barrier of his self-restraint -- never a formidable rampart , as we had cause to know . In a few loud and vigorous sentences he expressed a withering contempt for France , its institutions , its customs , and especially its custom-houses . `` If you 'd mix up the Prince 's initials , as you do Mr. Barrymore 's sometimes , and call him Kalmar-Dalm , there 'd be some excuse for it , '' Beechy Kidder murmured to the Countess .