eleven
o’clock
But Newman hinted that from what had fallen from the confidante , he had been led to suspect that the young lady led a very miserable and unhappy life , under the strict control of her only parent , who was of a violent and brutal temper ; a circumstance which he thought might in some degree account , both for her having sought the protection and friendship of the brothers , and her suffering herself to be prevailed upon to grant the promised interview . The last he held to be a very logical deduction from the premises , inasmuch as it was but natural to suppose that a young lady , whose present condition was so unenviable , would be more than commonly desirous to change it . It appeared , on further questioning -- for it was only by a very long and arduous process that all this could be got out of Newman Noggs -- that Newman , in explanation of his shabby appearance , had represented himself as being , for certain wise and indispensable purposes connected with that intrigue , in disguise ; and , being questioned how he had come to exceed his commission so far as to procure an interview , he responded , that the lady appearing willing to grant it , he considered himself bound , both in duty and gallantry , to avail himself of such a golden means of enabling Nicholas to prosecute his addresses . After these and all possible questions had been asked and answered twenty times over , they parted , undertaking to meet on the following night at half-past ten , for the purpose of fulfilling the appointment ; which was for eleven o'clock . ` Things come about very strangely ! ' thought Nicholas , as he walked home . ` I never contemplated anything of this kind ; never dreamt of the possibility of it .