nearly four o'clock
He used to worry himself ill over that . I 'll tell you what he said to me only -- '' But fortunately at this juncture Miss Trevor was captured again , and Miss Thorn put her hand over her mouth . Heaven only knows what she would have said ! The two boats did not arrive until nearly four o'clock , owing to some trouble to the tug 's propeller . Not knowing what excuse my client might have given for leaving some of his party ashore , I thought it best to go out to meet them . Seated on the cabin roof of the Maria I beheld Mr. Cooke and McCann in conversation , each with a black cigar too big for him . `` Hello , Crocker , old man , '' shouted my client , `` did you think I was never coming back ?