ten o’clock
Manston said no more , but , taking his newspaper , followed Owen from the office , and disappeared in the gloom of the street . Edward Springrove was now in London again , and on this same evening , before leaving Casterbridge , Owen wrote a careful letter to him , stating therein all the facts that had come to his knowledge , and begging him , as he valued Cytherea , to make cautious inquiries . A tall man was standing under the lamp-post , about half-a-dozen yards above the post-office , when he dropped the letter into the box . That same night , too , for a reason connected with the rencounter with Owen Graye , the steward entertained the idea of rushing off suddenly to London by the mail-train , which left Casterbridge at ten o'clock . But remembering that letters posted after the hour at which Owen had obtained his information -- whatever that was -- could not be delivered in London till Monday morning , he changed his mind and went home to Knapwater . Making a confidential explanation to his wife , arrangements were set on foot for his departure by the mail on Sunday night . Starting for church the next morning several minutes earlier than was usual with him , the steward intentionally loitered along the road from the village till old Mr. Springrove overtook him .