nine o'clock
He was full eighteen minutes and a half behind his time . Scrooge sat with his door wide open , that he might see him come into the Tank . His hat was off , before he opened the door ; his comforter too . He was on his stool in a jiffy ; driving away with his pen , as if he were trying to overtake nine o'clock . `` Hallo ! '' growled Scrooge , in his accustomed voice , as near as he could feign it . `` What do you mean by coming here at this time of day ? ''