a quarter to eleven
The young sailor smiled . `` Steamed away , and sailed away , you should say , sir . I see the suspicion to which your words point , and will answer them at once : On that night in question I was a guest of the Crockett House . I was absent from that house only half an hour -- from a quarter to eleven to a quarter after eleven -- during which time I walked to this house , saw the governor-elect , and walked back to the hotel , only to pay my bill , take a hack and drive to the railway station . Do you think that in half an hour I could have done all that and murdered the governor , and made away with his body besides , Mr. Rockharrt ? '' `` You would have to prove the truth of your words , sir , '' replied the Iron King . `` That is easily done by the people at the hotel .