seven o’clock
`` A thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you have hit it . Oh , let us lose not an instant in bringing help to this poor creature . '' `` We must be circumspect , for we are dealing with a very cunning man . We can do nothing until seven o'clock . At that hour we shall be with you , and it will not be long before we solve the mystery . '' We were as good as our word , for it was just seven when we reached the Copper Beeches , having put up our trap at a wayside public-house . The group of trees , with their dark leaves shining like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun , were sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been standing smiling on the door-step .