about nine o'clock
This startling news threw the party into deeper consternation than before . The little ex-burglar was not a fluent talker at best , but he now excelled himself in brevity . In three minutes he had concluded his story , and preparations were well under way for the pursuit . He was , according to his narrative , sitting in the lower end of the courtyard about nine o'clock , calmly smoking his pipe , when his attention was caught by the long , shrill call of a night bird . No such sound had come to his ears during his stay at the castle , and his curiosity was aroused . Not dreaming of what was to follow , he slowly walked toward the front of the castle . A woman stood in the shadow of the wall near the gate .