nearly nine o'clock
`` If he helps us out tonight , I 'll see that he gets anything he wants in San Francisco . '' He was boyishly eager ; full of excited plans for his daring scheme . The two men left him chuckling as he bit the end off a fresh cigar . * * * * * It was nearly nine o'clock when they left the Bank of California . Theater-going crowds were housed at the play ; the streets were extraordinarily silent as the quintet made their way toward the Mint . Robert was breathing hard . The dark streets , the mysterious Empire ahead , the hint of danger and a mighty stake distilled a toxic and exhilarating fever in his blood .