ten o'clock
He stated plainly in all four of his missives to Newlyn , Drift and Mousehole that the artist , John Barron , was shot dead by his hand and that he himself intended suffering the consequent punishment as became a brave man and the weapon of the Lord . These notes then he posted , and so went upon his way that he might fulfill to the letter his written words . Following the roads he had studied upon his map and committed to memory , Noy soon reached Melbury Gardens and presently stood opposite No , 6 and scanned it . The hour was then ten o'clock and lights were in some of the windows , but not many . Looking over the area railings , the sailor saw four servants -- two men and two women -- eating their supper . He noted , as a singular circumstance , that there were wineglasses upon the kitchen table and that they held red liquor and white . Noy 's design was simple enough .