nine o'clock
Investigation showed him that the bars in the windows had been placed there but recently . In considerable agitation he awaited the coming of night , fully determined that if the worst came to the worst he would accept starvation and torture rather than submit to the cruel demands of Elinor Crouch . He would die before he would consent to become her husband . She came at nine o'clock , accompanied by a fat little woman in black , who was introduced as a justice of the peace . `` Well ? '' said his captor , with the most enticing smile . `` Have you decided , Cuthbert ? ''