noon
Old Aaron Rockharrt strode into the drawing room where his wife and granddaughter sat , and astonished them by saying : `` Pack up your things this afternoon . We leave for Rockland by the first train to-morrow morning . '' He deigned no explanation , but turned and stalked off . The three reached North End at noon . As their arrival was to be a surprise , no carriage had been ordered to meet them . But the large , comfortable hack from the North End Hotel was engaged , and in it they rode on to Rockhold , where they pulled up two hours later , to the astonishment and consternation of the household , who , be it whispered , had almost as lief been confronted with his satanic majesty as to be surprised by their despotic master . Leaving his womenkind to get domestic affairs into order , the Iron King went to the little den at the end of the hall , which he called his study , and there made out a warrant for the arrest of Hyacinth Woods on the charge of vagrancy .