quarter before nine
It is scarcely probable , had Senor Stanley returned after the committal of such a deed , that his reentrance should not have been heard as well as his departure ; whereas the witness expressly declares , that though her attention was awakened by the previous faint sound , and she listened frequently , she never heard another movement , till her master and mistress 's return ; and as they went into the Senor 's room directly , and found him without the very least appearance of having moved , justice compels us to incline to the belief in Senor Stanley 's suggestion -- that he could scarcely have had sufficient time to rouse , depart , do murder , and feign sleep during Pedro Benito 's brief interval of absence . '' `` We will grant that so it may be , Reverend Father , but what proof have we that the murder had not been just committed when the body and the assassin were discovered ? '' Father Francis replied , by commanding the appearance of Don Ferdinand 's steward , and after the customary formula , inquired what hour his late lamented master had quitted his mansion the night of the murder . The man replied , without hesitation , `` Exactly as the chimes played the quarter before nine . '' `` But was not that unusually early ? The hour of meeting at the castle was ten , and the distance from Don Ferdinand 's mansion not twenty minutes ' ride , and scarce forty minutes ' walk . Are you perfectly certain as to the hour ? ''