nine o'clock precisely
He was for the summary process of going before a magistrate next morning , and taking out a warrant to apprehend Joshua Daunton on the capital charge for which he was pursued in London , and thus , at one blow , wind up the affair . But I held my promise to Mrs Causand to be sacred , and determined to give him , my fraternal enemy , one chance of escaping . Pigtop 's repugnance , however , to the employment of a lawyer could not be overcome ; so , not being able to obtain his consent , I determined to try and do without it , which my friend averred to be impossible . At nine o'clock precisely , as the smoking dishes appeared , so did the lawyer . A sudden emotion was perceptible on his iron-bound visage when his eyes first fell upon me , of the nature of which I could form no idea . Mr Pigtop bowed to him very stiffly ; and it was some time before the genuine cordiality of my manner could put Mr Seabright at his ease . While we were at table , I begged to decline giving him our names , as I was fearful that the intelligence might travel to the Hall , and thus give some scope for further machinations on the part of Joshua .