ten o'clock
I knew them all . The weird `` Museum Archives '' had told me all about them ; and as to the rest of that grisly company , strangers to me as yet , the neatly written , Russia-bound volume that Challoner had left would give me their histories too . It was some days before I was able to resume my reading of the uncanny little book , but an unoccupied evening at length gave me the opportunity . As ten o'clock struck , I put on my slippers , adjusted the light , drew an armchair up to my study fire and opened the volume at the place marked by the envelope that I had inserted at the end of the last reading . The page was headed `` Circumstances attending the acquirement of Numbers Five and Six , '' and the account ran as follows : `` The most carefully conceived plans , when put into practice , are apt to discover unforeseen defects . My elaborate plan for the capture of burglars was no exception to the rule . The idea of employing palpably dishonest servants to act as decoy ducks to lure the burglars on to the premises was an excellent one and had fully answered my expectations .