two o'clock
`` Mark , '' he said at last , `` when we were at Harrow together an aged sage impressed upon us the meaning of Seneca 's line , ' _ Veritas odit moras _ . ' I regard myself at the moment in a position of truth ; but whether on calm reflection I believe the whole of your dead friend 's story , I 'm hanged if I know , and therefore '' -- here he made a long pause and smoked violently -- `` and therefore I have bought a steamer . '' `` You have done what ? '' `` At two o'clock to-day , in your absence , I bought the steam-yacht _ Rocket _ , lately the property of Lord Wilmer , now the property of Roderick Stewart , of the Hotel Columbia , London . '' I think I must have laughed sorrowfully at him , as a man laughs at a drawing-room humorist , for he continued quickly -- `` Before we go on board her , the yacht will be re-christened by Mary -- who will stay with her dear maiden aunt in our absence -- and will be named after your vessel _ Celsis _ . Her crew will consist of our silent friend , Captain York , of his brother as chief mate , and of your men now at Portsmouth , with half a dozen more . We shall need eight firemen , whom the agents will engage , and three engineers , already found , for I have taken on Lord Wilmer 's men .