five o'clock
Mr. Carter told his assistant very briefly that he 'd been wasting his time and trouble on a false track , and that he should give the matter up . Sawney Tom received this announcement with a great deal of champing and working of the jaws , and with rather a doubtful expression in his dull red eyes ; but he accepted the payment which his employer offered him , and agreed to depart for London by the ten o'clock train . `` And whatever I do henceforth in this business , I do single-handed , '' Mr. Carter said to himself , as he turned his back upon his companion . At five o'clock that afternoon the detective found himself at the Shorncliffe station , where he hired a fly and drove on post-haste to Lisford cottage . The neat little habitation of the late naval commander looked pretty much as Mr. Carter had seen it last , except that in one of the upper windows there was a bill -- a large paper placard -- announcing that this house was to let , furnished ; and that all information respecting the same was to be obtained of Mr. Hogson , grocer , Lisford . Mr. Carter gave a long whistle . `` The bird 's flown , '' he muttered .