ten o'clock at night
`` I guess you wo n't starve if you do n't get that commissionership , Tim , '' he retorted . `` And I guess , '' returned Mr. Watling , `` that you wo n't go naked if you do n't have a uniform . '' Victoria 's surmise was true . At ten o'clock at night , two days before the convention , a tall figure had appeared in the empty rotunda of the Pelican , startling the clerk out of a doze . He rubbed his eyes and stared , recognized Hilary Vane , and yet failed to recognize him . It was an extraordinary occasion indeed which would cause Mr. McAvoy to lose his aplomb ; to neglect to seize the pen and dip it , with a flourish , into the ink , and extend its handle towards the important guest ; to omit a few fitting words of welcome . It was Hilary who got the pen first , and wrote his name in silence , and by this time Mr. McAvoy had recovered his presence of mind sufficiently to wield the blotter .