nine o'clock
Was there any person in the house , from the honest servants upwards , whom it would be reasonably possible to suspect of theft ? Mrs. Wagner returned to her bed . She was not a woman to be daunted by trifles -- but on this occasion her courage failed her when she was confronted by her own question . The office hours , in the winter-time , began at nine o'clock . From the head-clerk to the messenger , not one of the persons employed slept in the house : it was Mr. Keller 's wish that they should all be absolutely free to do what they liked with their leisure time in the evening : `` I know that I can trust them , from the oldest to the youngest man in my service , '' he used to say ; `` and I like to show it . '' Under these circumstances , Mrs. Wagner had only to rise earlier than usual , to be sure of having the whole range of the offices entirely to herself . At eight o'clock , with Jack in attendance , she was seated at her desk , carefully examining the different objects that it contained .