about seven o'clock in the evening
After which the six-footer comes into action and is much admired . In all these proceedings Mr. Guppy has so slight a part , except when he gives his evidence , that he is moved on like a private individual and can only haunt the secret house on the outside , where he has the mortification of seeing Mr. Smallweed padlocking the door , and of bitterly knowing himself to be shut out . But before these proceedings draw to a close , that is to say , on the night next after the catastrophe , Mr. Guppy has a thing to say that must be said to Lady Dedlock . For which reason , with a sinking heart and with that hang-dog sense of guilt upon him which dread and watching enfolded in the Sol 's Arms have produced , the young man of the name of Guppy presents himself at the town mansion at about seven o'clock in the evening and requests to see her ladyship . Mercury replies that she is going out to dinner ; do n't he see the carriage at the door ? Yes , he does see the carriage at the door ; but he wants to see my Lady too . Mercury is disposed , as he will presently declare to a fellow-gentleman in waiting , `` to pitch into the young man '' ; but his instructions are positive .