five o'clock sharp
The proprietor temporarily lost sight of these , however , in his sudden and vivid interest in the new patron 's appearance . Laurie answered his questions with a word that definitely checked the further development of curiosity . Then , huddling over the stove , and warming his icy , soaked feet , he curtly outlined his intentions . He was going to change back into his own clothes , he explained , and he would want his car at five o'clock sharp . This , he intimated , would give Burke a little more than half an hour in which to get his mental processes started again and to have the car ready . Burke whistled inaudibly . Obviously the joke the lad had played had not panned out to the young man 's taste .