five minutes past one
She repeated to herself Gypsy Nan 's directions for finding the spring of the secret drawer . She forced herself to think of anything that would bar the entry of that fear which stood lurking at the threshold of her mind . From time to time she consulted her watch -- and each time hurried the faster . It was five minutes past one when , stealing silently along a black lane , and counting against the skyline the same number of buildings she had previously counted on the street from the corner , she entered an equally black yard , and reached the back door of Skarbolov 's little store . She felt out with her hands and found the padlock , and her fingers pressed on the link in the chain that Gypsy Nan had described . It gave readily . She slipped it free , and opened the door .