nine o'clock
he said . `` I sacrifice myself on the altar of truth . '' They bent their heads low together over the watch ; it was not easy to make out the time . `` It 's nine o'clock , '' said Staniford . `` It ca n't be ; it was half past when I came up , '' answered Lydia . `` One hand 's at twelve and the other at nine , '' he said , conclusively . `` Oh , then it 's a quarter to twelve . ''