three
o’clock
` Then I will dine with you , man , ' said Mr. Herries of Birrenswork ; ` the few minutes you can spare me after dinner will suffice for my business ; and I will not prevent you a moment from minding your own -- I am no bottle-man . ' You have often remarked that my father , though a scrupulous ohserver of the rites of hospitality , seems to exercise them rather as a duty than as a pleasure ; indeed , but for a conscientious wish to feed the hungry and receive the stranger , his doors would open to guests much seldomer than is the case . I never saw so strong an example of this peculiarity -LRB- which I should otherwise have said is caricatured in your description -RRB- as in his mode of homologating the self-given invitation of Mr. Herries . The embarsassed brow , and the attempt at a smile which accompanied his ` We will expect the honour of seeing you in Brown Square at three o'clock , ' could not deceive any one , and did not impose upon the old laird . It was with a look of scorn that he replied , ` I will relieve you then till that hour , Mr. Fairford ; ' and his whole manner seemed to say , ` It is my pleasure to dine with you , and I care not whether I am welcome or no . ' When he turned away , I asked my father who he was . ` An unfortunate gentleman , ' was the reply .