nine o'clock
I swear , Mr. Deputy , that I had no other intention than to talk to Mathias de Gorne . Knowing certain particulars of his life which enabled me to bring effective pressure to bear upon him , I wished to make use of this advantage in order to achieve my purpose . If things turned out differently , I am not wholly to blame ... . So I went there a little before nine o'clock . The servants , I knew , were out . He opened the door himself . He was alone . ''