nine o'clock
It was a relief to me when at last , after a light dinner , we set out upon our expedition . Lestrade and Mycroft met us by appointment at the outside of Gloucester Road Station . The area door of Oberstein 's house had been left open the night before , and it was necessary for me , as Mycroft Holmes absolutely and indignantly declined to climb the railings , to pass in and open the hall door . By nine o'clock we were all seated in the study , waiting patiently for our man . An hour passed and yet another . When eleven struck , the measured beat of the great church clock seemed to sound the dirge of our hopes . Lestrade and Mycroft were fidgeting in their seats and looking twice a minute at their watches .