about a quarter past twelve
He grew , in fact , very uncomfortable , feeling an inward persuasion that when , in answer to the summons , he had opened the hall-door , he had actually given admission to the besieger . He said nothing to Mrs. Prosser , but went up earlier to his bed-room , ` where he read a while in his Bible , and said his prayers . ' I hope the particular relation of this circumstance does not indicate its singularity . He lay awake a good while , it appears ; and , as he supposed , about a quarter past twelve he heard the soft palm of a hand patting on the outside of the bed-room door , and then brushed slowly along it . Up bounced Mr. Prosser , very much frightened , and locked the door , crying , ` Who 's there ? ' but receiving no answer but the same brushing sound of a soft hand drawn over the panels , which he knew only too well . In the morning the housemaid was terrified by the impression of a hand in the dust of the ` little parlour ' table , where they had been unpacking delft and other things the day before .