three o'clock
At first Mr Stuart was alarmed by the abrupt entrance of the big labourer ; then he was nettled and disgusted at what he deemed a silly practical joke of his son . Ultimately he was astonished and somewhat incredulous in regard to the prospects of housebreaking which his son held out to him . He was so far convinced , however , as to allow Kenneth to make what preparations he pleased , and then retired to rest , coolly observing that if the burglars did come it was evident they would be well taken care of without his aid , and that if they did _ not _ come there was no occasion for his losing a night 's rest . Between two and three o'clock that morning three men climbed over the garden wall of Seaside Villa , and , having deposited their shoes in a convenient spot , went on tiptoe to the dining-room window . Here they paused to consult in low whispers . While they were thus engaged , three other men watched their movements with earnest solicitude from a neighbouring bush behind which they lay concealed . After a few moments one of the first three went to the window and began to cut out part of a pane of glass with a glazier 's diamond .