nine o’clock
Irregular in all his habits , Allan accommodated himself to no stated times -LRB- with the solitary exception of dinner-time -RRB- at any hour of the day or night . He retired to rest early or late , and he rose early or late , exactly as he felt inclined . The servants were forbidden to call him ; and Mrs. Gripper was accustomed to improvise the breakfast as she best might , from the time when the kitchen fire was first lighted to the time when the clock stood on the stroke of noon . Toward nine o'clock on the morning after his return Midwinter knocked at Allan 's door , and on entering the room found it empty . After inquiry among the servants , it appeared that Allan had risen that morning before the man who usually attended on him was up , and that his hot water had been brought to the door by one of the house-maids , who was then still in ignorance of Midwinter 's return . Nobody had chanced to see the master , either on the stairs or in the hall ; nobody had heard him ring the bell for breakfast , as usual . In brief , nobody knew anything about him , except what was obviously clear to all -- that he was not in the house .