six o'clock
He had the house to himself , and was thus master of the situation , so long as he could keep his pursuers on the outside . The upper servants -- half a dozen coach-loads -- had been packed off to London , under convoy of Manningtree and Mrs. Hubbock . The under servants -- rank and file -- from housemaids to turnspits , slept in a huge barrack adjoining the stables , built in Elizabeth 's reign to accommodate the lower grade of a nobleman 's household . These would not come into the house to light fires and sweep rooms till six o'clock at the earliest ; and it was not yet four . Lord Fareham , therefore , had to fear no interruption from his own people . There was broad daylight in the house now ; yet he looked about for a candle ; found one on a side-table , in a tall silver candlestick , and stopped to light it , before he raised the lifeless figure from the floor and lifted it into the easiest position for carrying , the head lying on his shoulder . Then , holding the slender waist firmly , circled by his left arm , he took the candlestick in his right hand , and went out of the room with his burden , along a passage leading to a seldom-used staircase , which he ascended , carrying that tall , slim form as if it had been a feather-weight , up flight after flight , to the muniment room in the roof .