about noon
I quickly made my way thither , and , on arriving , found the door locked . Evidently he was out . On making further enquiries , I found that he had that day gone to the nearest market town , and probably would not be home until dark . It was now about noon , and , faint and hungry , I found my way to the village alehouse , where , after having had something to eat , I tried to think . Since yesterday , I had lived a lifetime . Yesterday at that time I had not arrived home , I had not seen Bill Tregargus , I knew nothing of what had occurred . Now I was branded with the brand of a murderer .