seven o’clock
He wasted no time in brooding . He had promised to call for Theodore at seven o'clock ; they were going to make arrangements for the celebration of the professor 's birthday . Theodore 's secret plan was to convert his brother , and Gustav 's equally secret intention was to make his younger brother take a more reasonable view of life . Punctually at seven o'clock , a cab stopped before the house , -LRB- the lieutenant invariably arrived in a cab -RRB- and immediately after Theodore heard the ringing of his spurs and the rattling of his sword on the stairs . `` Good evening , you old mole , '' said the elder brother with a laugh . He was the picture of health and youth . His highly-polished Hessian boots revealed a pair of fine legs , his tunic outlined the loins of a cart-horse ; the golden bandolier of his cartridge box made his chest appear broader and his sword-belt showed off a pair of enormous thighs .