nine o’clock
in the evening
``` Madam has provided herself with strychnine , which she will place in the tea you drink to-night . Tea will be served in half an hour . _ He _ will be waiting -- for she forced him to agree -- and your cries will announce all to him . You will be poisoned between eight and nine o'clock in the evening , sir , -- at ten you will already be dying , -- and at midnight you will be dead . Then madam will banish every one from her chamber , in inconsolable grief -- lock the door -- tap on the window-pane -- _ he _ will hear the signal , and come up the back staircase -- when madam will open the private door for him to come in and take a look at your body ! Do you understand now , sir ? ' ``` Yes , ' I said .