nearly nine o’clock
I have many thanks yet to give him for all his most kind attentions . '' `` I know he is most anxious to see you , '' said Mrs. Dalrymple , with a very peculiar emphasis , and evidently desiring that I should inquire the reasons of this anxiety . I , however , most heroically forbore indulging my curiosity , and added that I should endeavor to find him on my way to the barracks ; and then , hastily looking at my watch , I pronounced it a full hour later than it really was , and promising to spend the evening -- my last evening -- with them , I took my leave and hurried away , in no small flurry to be once more out of reach of Mrs. Dalrymple 's fire , which I every moment expected to open upon me . Power and I dined together _ tête-à-tête _ at the hotel , and sat chatting over my adventures with the Dalrymples till nearly nine o'clock . `` Come , Charley , '' said he , at length , `` I see your eye wandering very often towards the timepiece ; another bumper , and I 'll let you off . What shall it be ? '' `` What you like , '' said I , upon whom a share of three bottles of strong claret had already made a very satisfactory impression .