ten o'clock
`` But he moved so quickly and it was so dark I did n't recognize him , even if I happened to know him . '' `` And what time was this ? '' questioned Colonel Colby . `` Some time between half-past nine and ten o'clock . '' Bart was asked to show the colonel where the disappearance of the stranger had taken place , and it was proved that this was at a point just around a corner from the room where the footprints leading to the fire-escape had been discovered . `` Perhaps you saw the person just at the time he was making his escape , '' was Colonel Colby 's comment . `` We will look for footprints below the fire-escape . ''