nine o'clock
And with this he fell into silence . Some time passed . Twice the Captain pulled out his watch and looked at it . Shortly after nine o'clock the beat of hoofs came up the driveway , and the Captain turned his head toward the entrance and waited . A moment later the door opened and three men stood framed in the doorway . Two of them -- one in civilian dress -- were endeavoring to hold up a third between them . The central figure presented an alarming picture .