nearly five o'clock in the evening
And during the whole of this time , thanks to the fact that the secret had been kept from everybody but sympathisers whose discretion might be relied on , the rescue and return of the Montijo family remained unsuspected by the Spanish authorities . Then , one morning , a message reached Senor Calderon from Major Alvaros , to the effect that the latter would arrive at the hacienda that night , on a business visit , and that all necessary preparations were to be made for his reception . This message Calderon at once handed to Don Hermoso , with a request for instructions as to how the matter should be dealt with ; whereupon Jack and Carlos , who happened to be at hand that day , at once undertook the duty of receiving the Spaniard suitably . It was nearly five o'clock in the evening when Alvaros , hot , tired , and dusty from his long ride from Pinar del Rio and his previous journey by train , drew rein and dismounted before the broad flight of steps leading up to the gallery which ran round the house , and , handing over his horse to an obsequious negro who was in waiting , proceeded to ascend the steps , his brow wrinkled into a frown of displeasure at Calderon 's failure to be present to give him a suitably respectful greeting upon his arrival . He reached the top of the steps , paused for a moment to glance around him at the wide prospect visible from the commanding elevation of the gallery , and then strode forward to enter the house , the wide folding doors of which stood , as usual , invitingly open . But as he did so , and ere his foot reached the threshold , he was confronted by Carlos , who , emerging suddenly from the obscurity of the entrance hall , levelled a revolver straight at the Spaniard 's right eye , so that before that individual could recover from his astonishment , he found himself gazing into the grooved barrel . `` Hands up , you villain and murderer ! ''