nine o'clock
I was once down in Northamptonshire , about some railway business ; let me see ; I almost forget whether I was with him , or against him . But I know he made sixty thousand pounds by one hour 's work ; sixty thousand pounds ! And then he got so mad with drinking that we all thought -- '' And so Mr Bideawhile went on for two hours , and Frank found no opportunity of saying one word about the business which had brought him up to town . What wonder that such a man as this should be obliged to stay at his office every night till nine o'clock ? During these two hours , a clerk had come in three or four times , whispering something to the lawyer , who , on the last of such occasions , turned to Frank , saying , `` Well , perhaps that will do for to-day . If you 'll manage to call to-morrow , say about two , I will have the whole thing looked up ; or , perhaps Wednesday or Thursday would suit you better . '' Frank , declaring that the morrow would suit him very well , took his departure , wondering much at the manner in which business was done at the house of Messrs Slow & Bideawhile .