nine o'clock
` What were you doing there ? ' ` Seeing after that gipsy ring for Mab , ' explained George , pulling his moustache . ` I bought it of Mother Jael , and had to ride out to the camp to make the bargain . As I am going back into harness to-day , there was n't much time to lose , so I went off last night after dinner , between eight and nine o'clock , and the old jade kept me so long fixing up the business that I did n't reach home until eleven . By Jove ! I got a jolly ducking ; looked like an insane river god dripping with wet . ' ` Did you see anything of the murder , Captain Pendle ? '