ten o'clock
hundreds of pounds ! ' -- rang in his ears ; and more than ever he desired to examine the bishop 's cheque-book , in order to ascertain the exact sum . The secret , he thought , must indeed be a precious one when the cost of its preservation ran into three figures . When Cargrim emerged into the street it was still filled with people , as ten o'clock was just chiming from the cathedral tower . The gossipers had retired within , and lights were gleaming in the upper windows of the houses ; but knots of neighbours still stood about here and there , talking and laughing loudly . Cargrim strolled slowly down the street towards the Eastgate , musing over his late experience , and enjoying the coolness of the night air after the sultry atmosphere of the coffee-room . The sky was now brilliant with stars , and a silver moon rolled aloft in the blue arch , shedding down floods of light on the town , and investing its commonplace aspect with something of romance .