twenty minutes past four
And when the reporter went , who could say what damaging admission he might surprise out of the poor lady , or at the least what inklings to hang diabolical guesses upon ? Worst of all , he might see Miss Carstairs herself -- awaken no one knew what suspicions in her already perplexed mind . He sprang up and glanced at his watch . It was twenty minutes past four . Every minute had become precious now , and waiting for Peter was of course not to be thought of . While he loitered ineffectually here , Coligny Smith , four miles away , might be doing his plans the irremediable injury . And he started for the cabin swiftly to get his hat .