two o'clock
Or , rather , he saw deliverance at hand . The crisis of his boy 's fortune had arrived ; and , if Sydney triumphed , nothing that could happen to Sydney 's father could rob Mr. Campion of his joy . At last the women left the room , and Sydney proceeded to tell his father what he wanted . He must return to town by the first train in the morning , having made an appointment with Mr. Maltman for two o'clock . Of course he meant to contest Dormer ; but it was desirable that he should know for certain that he could raise five hundred pounds within a week , to supplement his own narrow means . His face fell a little when his father confessed -- as though it were clearly a matter for shame and remorse -- that he could not so much as draw a cheque for twenty pounds . But , in fact , he was not surprised .