About midnight
The Vicar would help him . The Vicar and his wife left about ten ; Mr. and Mrs. Alfred retired early ; the various agitations that had shaken the old silver-haired dame gave place to a quiescence that was in a measure hopeful . Then sleep overtook the old manor-house , and the silence of the night . About midnight there was a loud crash in the dining-room . Certain of the servants slept on the ground-floor for safety 's sake ; and the first one -- indeed , the only one -- to be thoroughly aroused by this sudden noise was the butler , a young man who had inherited the position from his father . He jumped up , hastily donned some clothes , and carried a light along to the room , wisely thinking that if it was only a picture that had fallen he need not alarm the whole household . At the same time he went cautiously , for he did not wish to be seized by the throat unawares .