With regard to an early hour, he was too true to his promise. Before six—long before I felt inclined to leave my comfortable bed—he was with me.
He apologised for disturbing me so early, on the score of his being without a watch, and could not tell the time; but I could perceive that the jest was a melancholy one.
“What do you mean to do?”
“Why, to find Master Ruffleshirt, to be sure.”
“Will you not give him an hour’s grace? Perhaps he may send this morning?”
“No chance whatever.”
“It is possible he may have lost your card? Leave it alone till we have had breakfast.”
“Lost my card? No. Besides, he might easily have got over that difficulty. He knew we were on our way to this hotel. Don’t all the world come here? No; that isn’t the fellow’s excuse, and I shan’t eat till I know what is. So, rouse up, my boy! and come along.”
“But where are you going?”
“Number noine, Rue Daw—daw—hang his scribble! Daw—phin, I believe.”