nearly eleven o'clock
To win the money , fairly or otherwise , and to hand it contemptuously to Thomasin in her aunt 's presence , had been the dim outline of his purpose . But men are drawn from their intentions even in the course of carrying them out , and it was extremely doubtful , by the time the twentieth guinea had been reached , whether Wildeve was conscious of any other intention than that of winning for his own personal benefit . Moreover , he was now no longer gambling for his wife 's money , but for Yeobright 's ; though of this fact Christian , in his apprehensiveness , did not inform him till afterwards . It was nearly eleven o'clock , when , with almost a shriek , Christian placed Yeobright 's last gleaming guinea upon the stone . In thirty seconds it had gone the way of its companions . Christian turned and flung himself on the ferns in a convulsion of remorse , `` O , what shall I do with my wretched self ? '' he groaned .