about
nine in the evening
Buttons sat for a few moments lost in thought . At length he rose and quietly left the room . It was about nine in the morning when he left . It was about nine in the evening when he returned . He looked dusty , fatigued , fagged , and dejected . He had a long story to tell and was quite communicative . The substance of it was this : On leaving the hotel he had gone at once to _ La Cica _ 's residence , and had requested permission to see her .