ten o'clock
He would cancel the thing . He dropped from the omnibus at the park entrance , where he found his restive mare . He gave her a lump of sugar and climbed into the saddle . He directed the groom to return for the horse at ten o'clock , then headed for the bridle-path . It was heavy , but the air was so keen and bracing that neither the man nor the horse worried about the going . There were a dozen or so early riders besides himself , and in and out the winding path they passed and repassed , walking , trotting , cantering . Only one party attracted him : a riding master and a trio of brokers who were verging on embonpoint , and were desperate and looked it .