nine o'clock
I remember your weakness for tea , you see ; and a cup will refresh you after your journey . '' Dinner at Chudleigh Hall that night was a very quiet , unostentatious function ; for the numerous guests that were usually to be found beneath its hospitable roof had now gone their various ways , and Lady Olivia had , of course , at once ceased to issue further invitations as soon as the projected expedition had been finally determined upon . The party , therefore , consisted merely of Sir Reginald , Lady Olivia , and the colonel ; and when Lady Olivia rose from the table the two men merely dallied over their wine long enough to smoke a cigar , and then rejoined her in the drawing-room . It was then about half-past nine o'clock -- time for Sir Reginald and the colonel to set out , if they wished to witness the arrival of the _ Flying Fish _ -- and the baronet was altogether of too courteous and hospitable a nature to allow his expected friends to arrive at their destination , and make their way to the Hall unwelcomed . The two men , therefore , after swallowing their coffee , sallied forth into the park , and strolled off in the direction of the spot where it had been arranged that the ship should come to earth . This was a level , open glade , some ten acres in extent , completely surrounded and hemmed in by noble forest trees , at a distance of about a mile from the house ; it was the only part of the estate that had been fully wooded when it came into Sir Reginald 's hands , and the trees were consequently full-grown , thus affording perfect concealment for the huge and marvellous fabric that was expected so shortly to make her appearance on the spot . A carriage-drive led through it ; but Sir Reginald and his friend took a short cut through the quaintly arranged old English garden that lay at the back of the house .