nine o’clock
By that time , the landlord had discovered that Jervy 's luggage had been secretly conveyed away , and that his tenant had left him , in debt for rent of the two best rooms in the house . No longer in any doubt of what had happened , Mrs. Sowler employed the remaining hours of the evening in making inquiries after the missing man . Not a trace of him had been discovered up to eight o'clock on the next morning . Shortly after nine o'clock -- that is to say , towards the hour at which Phoebe paid her visit to Amelius -- Mrs. Sowler , resolute to know the worst , made her appearance at the apartments occupied by Mrs. Farnaby . `` I wish to speak to you , '' she began abruptly , `` about that young man we both know of . Have you seen anything of him lately ? '' Mrs. Farnaby , steadily on her guard , deferred answering the question .