five o'clock
All the time they had an eager , evil eye out for a tall American and a slender girl ! Dangloss 's lynx-eyed constabulary kept close watch over these restless , homeless strangers , constantly ordering them to disperse , or to `` move on , '' or to `` find a bed , not a doorstep . '' The commands were always obeyed ; churlishly , perhaps , in many instances , but never with physical resistance . At five o'clock , a stealthy whisper went the rounds , reaching the ear of every vagabond and cutthroat engaged in the untiring vigil . Like smoke they faded away . The silent watch was over . The word had sped to every corner of the town that it was no longer necessary to maintain the watch for Truxton King .