ten
o’clock
It was about eight o'clock at night , and Gaston was busy in his rooms packing up to go away next morning . He had disposed of his apartments to Bellthorp , as that young gentleman had lately come in for some money and was dissatisfied with the paternal roof , where he was kept too strictly tied up . Vandeloup , seated in his shirt sleeves in the midst of a chaos of articles of clothing , portmanteaux , and boxes , was , with the experience of an accomplished traveller , rapidly putting these all away in the most expeditious and neatest manner . He wanted to get finished before ten o'clock , so that he could go down to his club and show himself , in order to obviate any suspicion as to his going away . He did not intend to send out any P.P.C. cards , as he was a modest young man and wanted to slip unostentatiously out of the country ; besides , there was nothing like precaution , as the least intimation of his approaching departure would certainly put Dr Gollipeck on the alert and cause trouble . The gas was lighted , there was a bright glare through all the room , and everything was in confusion , with M. Vandeloup seated in the centre , like Marius amid the ruins of Carthage . While thus engaged there came a ring at the outer door , and shortly afterwards Gaston 's landlady entered his room with a card .