eleven o'clock
`` Yes , Mother , -- if we have time . '' `` Take the time , my dear , '' added Mrs. Frost sharply . `` Yes , Mother . '' The Marquis started off with Jesse at eleven o'clock , as eager for the excursion as a boy ; and by half-past twelve Nancy and Tom had set out across the woods for the Red Farm . Dan was impatient for them to be gone . As soon as he saw them disappear in the woods back of the Inn , he made excuses to his mother , and hurried to the north wing . He found the door of the bowling alley securely locked , which convinced him that either the Marquis or Nancy had taken the key from the closet of his chamber .