ten
o'clock
By lifting one of the forms as quietly as we could close to the window , and standing on this , the two of us managed to raise the iron bar from the catch and let it swing down , although the hinges made a terrible creaking noise in the operation , which we thought would waken Dr Hellyer up . However , on going to the door to listen again , we heard him still snoring , so we then proceeded to unfasten the window , letting in the cold night air , that made us shiver as it blew into the room from the sea . It was quite dark when we got outside into the balcony , although we could see a star or two faintly glimmering overhead ; while away to the westward , across the common , the red light at the pier-head marking the entrance to the harbour was visible . Like most watering-places in the `` dead season , '' everybody went to bed early in the terrace ; so that , although it could have been barely ten o'clock , not a light was to be seen from the windows of the neighbouring houses . `` Just the night for a burglary ! '' said Tom with a snigger , on our cautiously looking round us to see if the coast was clear . `` Yes , '' I chimed in , joyously , `` only , we are going to burgle out , instead of breaking in ; '' and we then both had a hearty chuckle at this little joke .