a quarter before nine
He refused dessert , and left the table early , excusing himself on the ground that he wanted to see Alex. Alex , however , was not to be found . It was after eight when Halsey ordered the car , and started down the hill at a pace that , even for him , was unusually reckless . Shortly after , Alex reported that he was ready to go over the house , preparatory to closing it for the night . Sam Bohannon came at a quarter before nine , and began his patrol of the grounds , and with the arrival of the two detectives to look forward to , I was not especially apprehensive . At half-past nine I heard the sound of a horse driven furiously up the drive . It came to a stop in front of the house , and immediately after there were hurried steps on the veranda . Our nerves were not what they should have been , and Gertrude , always apprehensive lately , was at the door almost instantly .