the hour of
three
Before they broke up for the night the genuine Baron , released from confinement and soothed by the humblest apologies and a heavy supper , recounted the main events in Mr Beveridge _ alias _ Bunker 's brief career in town . On his exploits in St Egbert 's he felt some delicacy in touching , but at the end of what was after all only a fragmentary and one-sided narrative , even the defrauded Trelawney could not but admit that , whatever the departed gentleman 's failings , his talents at least were worthy of a better cause . The party at Brierley Park had gone at last to bed . The Baron was installed in his late usurper 's room , and from the clock-tower the hour of three had just been tolled . Sympathy and Sir Richard 's cellar had greatly mollified the Baron 's wrath ; he had almost begun to see the humorous side of his late experience ; as a rival Mr Bunker was extinct , and with an easy mind and a placid smile he had fallen asleep some two hours past . The fire burned low , and for long nothing but the occasional sigh of the wind in the trees disturbed the silence . At length , had the Baron been awake , he might have heard the stealthiest of footsteps in the corridor outside .