about nine o'clock
in the morning
Lance had been anxiously watching for a favourable opportunity to put into operation Dickinson 's suggestion as to the mode in which Ralli should be approached in order to secure the completion of the work in the manner most favourable to their own plans , but hitherto no such opportunity had presented itself . This was peculiarly unfortunate , as the work was now in so forward a state that , whenever Ralli opened his mouth , he expected to hear the dreaded order given for the preparation of the ways and the construction of the cradle for launching . But at length the coveted opportunity came . It was about nine o'clock in the morning when Lance saw Ralli step out of his gig on to the rocky platform at the lower end of the shipyard and walk straight toward the schooner . The Greek paused at a little distance from where Lance was at work , taking up a position from which he could obtain a favourable view of the vessel 's beautifully modelled hull and gracefully sweeping lines ; and then , with one eye shut , he began a critical scrutiny of her , shifting his position a few inches occasionally in order to test the perfection of the various curves . `` Now , '' Lance thought , `` is my time . I must tackle him at once , whatever comes of it ; it will never do to defer the matter any further .