eleven o'clock
`` It will be a lark , Perkins , anyhow ; things have been rather slow at School lately , and three or four of us have set our minds on it . So if you let me know what evening will suit you , we will be here . '' Four evenings later Frank Norris , with the other three boys , slipped out after prayers were over , and started on their expedition . Frank 's fag closed the door noiselessly behind them and rebolted it ; he had strict orders to take his place at an upper window at eleven o'clock and watch for their return . If when they made their appearance the house was quiet and the lights out , he was to slip down and let them in ; if not , they were to go away again and return an hour later . All four boys were in thick pea-jackets , and wore rough caps which they had bought for the purpose . When they reached Perkins 's public-house , the prize-fighter surveyed them closely .