seventeen
before twelve o'clock
He had got hold of a scheme which Murray and Learoyd had started , and as its object seemed to be to score off Dennison I was not going to be out of it . We found Thornton sitting in an arm-chair with his feet on the mantelpiece , and Jack seeing that he was alone sported the oak so that we could not be interrupted . `` I should think , '' Thornton said , as he pushed his chair back , `` that I must have had over thirty men in here to-day . There were seventeen before twelve o'clock . I am thinking of putting a visitors ' book in the passage , so that they can write their names and go away . Are you going to back me up to-morrow night ? '' he asked Jack .