nine o'clock
`` All right , Clarence ; now tell this lad here that I 'm a friend of yours and a dead-head ; and that he must be discreet and say nothing about this visit of mine . '' The instrument began to talk to the youth and I hurried away . I fell to ciphering . In half an hour it would be nine o'clock . Knights and horses in heavy armor could n't travel very fast . These would make the best time they could , and now that the ground was in good condition , and no snow or mud , they would probably make a seven-mile gait ; they would have to change horses a couple of times ; they would arrive about six , or a little after ; it would still be plenty light enough ; they would see the white cloth which I should tie around my right arm , and I would take command . We would surround that prison and have the king out in no time .