half after nine
The window was then open , as it was a sultry night , but the blind down . Her master was a good deal crippled by gout , and could not at that time move actively nor write , but could dress himself , and close a window . He disliked being assisted ; and the servants were not in the habit of seeing him from the time his supper was brought in till breakfast next morning . She had seen Mr. Ward come home at twenty minutes or half after nine , in uniform , carrying his rifle ; she had given the message , and he had gone into the sitting-room without putting down the rifle . She believed it to be the one on the table , but could not say so on oath ; he never let any one touch it ; and she never looked at such horrid murderous things . And some remarks highly adverse to the volunteer movement were cut short . William Andrews , groom , had been called by Anne Ellis , had seen the wound , and the blood on the desk , and had gone to fetch a surgeon and the police from Whitford .