nine o'clock
The storm passed over , and the summer evening came on . The two detectives came back to their places , varying their disguises for the evening . The house seemed all quiet , as before , and L -- came to the conclusion that there was either no one within or that the inmates were disposed to lie very close , as they did not even open the front windows to admit the clear evening air , cooled by the shower , or to look at the splendid sunset sky . So time passed on until nine o'clock , when the two detectives agreed to adopt the `` ride-and-tie '' principle -- one keeping strict watch until midnight and the other until morning . This arrangement was duly carried out ; and L -- , who had taken the turn till midnight , again resumed his place at six o'clock . All was quiet -- no one had entered or left the house , and L -- became thoroughly satisfied that it must be unoccupied . He might have haunted the house in one disguise or another , retaining the same correct opinion , until doomsday , had not one of the neighboring houses contained one of those inquisitive gentlemen -LRB- sometimes depreciatingly called `` meddlers '' -RRB- who can never be content without knowing the business of all others , better than their own .