nearly eight o’clock
Antony walked to the gate , filling his pipe as he went . Then he lit his pipe , sat on the gate , and took his head in his hands . `` Now then , '' he said to himself , `` let 's begin at the beginning . '' It was nearly eight o'clock when William Beverley , the famous sleuth-hound , arrived , tired and dusty , at ` The George , ' to find Antony , cool and clean , standing bare-headed at the door , waiting for him . `` Is dinner ready ? '' were Bill 's first words . `` Yes . ''