about five o'clock
He unhitched his horse , vaulted into the saddle , and dashed back , as fast as his beast could be urged to carry him , to the Inn . He was certain now that the schooner held the secret of his vanished friends , and it occurred to him to play their own game and turn the tables on Monsieur the Marquis de Boisdhyver . Arrived at the Inn , Tom turned his horse , white with lather , over to Jesse ; made sure that the Marquis was in the bar ; and then , with the help of Manners , rapidly made a few preparations . It was about five o'clock when , his arrangements completed , he returned to the bar , where Monsieur de Boisdhyver was quietly taking his tea . Tom bowed to the old gentleman , seated himself in a great chair about five feet away , and somewhat ostentatiously took from his pocket a pistol , laid it on the arm of his chair , and let his fingers lightly play upon the handle . The old marquis watched Pembroke 's movements out of the corner of his eye , still somewhat deliberately sipping his tea . Manners , meanwhile , had entered , and stood respectfully in the doorway , oddly enough also with a pistol in his hand .