There is no one in the big room at present.

It won't be open for half an hour.

Ingleston keeps it shut as long as he can so as to give everyone a fair chance of a good place.

If the gentleman will come in there with me I will have a look at him." Mark expressed his willingness to be looked at, and the man having gone and got the key of the room from Ingleston, went in with them and locked the door behind.
"Now, sir, if you will strip to the waist I shall be better able to say who you should have as your teacher than I can now." Mark stripped, and the man walked round and round him, examining him critically.
"He's a big 'un," he said to Dick when he had completed his examination.
"He has got plenty of muscle and frame, and ought to be a tremendous hitter; he is about the figure of Gibbons, and if he goes in for it really, ought to make well nigh as good a man, if not quite.

I don't think Bill would care about taking him up till he knows a bit about it.
I tell you what, sir; you will be too big altogether for me by the time you get to be quick on your legs, and to use your strength, but if you like I will take you on for a month or so--say, two months; by that time I think you will be good enough to go to Gibbons.