half after ten
Do not fear to trust the letters , or anything you may write , to him . '' Mr. Hollins was too proud ever to ask for money and could not contemplate the possibility of its being asked in his behalf , she argued . But if anything she might write was to be trusted to the messenger , surely she could trust his statements , and so she questioned eagerly . The bearer thought a thousand dollars might be enough to straighten everything , and she bade him be at the front of the house that night by half after ten , to bring her a little packet he spoke of as having received from Hollins -- her own letters to him -- and the money would be ready . There was something about the man 's face and carriage that was familiar . She could not tell where she had seen him , but felt sure that she had , and it seemed to her that it was in uniform . But he denied having ever been in service , and seemed to shrink into shadow as though alarmed at the idea .