about twelve o'clock
Standing upon the top of the bleak common , with drifts of moonlight shot from the openings , with flying clouds above , every now and again falling upon it , it looked well like the lair of mystery and crime . The robber chief laid his finger-tips with a gentle sound upon the door , and immediately the mute pushed back the bolts ; and then stood aside to let the robbers in . ` Well , ' enquired the chief , ` have they passed to York ? ' and the dummy answering -LRB- for it was only to the country side that he was deaf and dumb -RRB- said : ` Yes , he and a big country loot passed about twelve o'clock . ' ` So early ! ' ejaculated the captain . ` Then we are not here any too soon . '