the hour of nine
As he turned to leave the room , he encountered a sneering glance from the bold-featured personage whom he had before noticed ; and no sooner was he beyond the door , than he heard a general laugh , in which the innkeeper 's voice might be distinguished , like the dropping of small stones into a kettle . `` Now , is it not strange , '' thought Robin , with his usual shrewdness , `` is it not strange that the confession of an empty pocket should outweigh the name of my kinsman , Major Molineux ? Oh , if I had one of those grinning rascals in the woods , where I and my oak sapling grew up together , I would teach him that my arm is heavy though my purse be light ! '' On turning the corner of the narrow lane , Robin found himself in a spacious street , with an unbroken line of lofty houses on each side , and a steepled building at the upper end , whence the ringing of a bell announced the hour of nine . The light of the moon , and the lamps from the numerous shop-windows , discovered people promenading on the pavement , and amongst them Robin had hoped to recognize his hitherto inscrutable relative . The result of his former inquiries made him unwilling to hazard another , in a scene of such publicity , and he determined to walk slowly and silently up the street , thrusting his face close to that of every elderly gentleman , in search of the Major 's lineaments . In his progress , Robin encountered many gay and gallant figures .