eleven o'clock
He remembered that beneath the iron-bound box in the corner there was a trap-door which descended to the unused cellar , for his workshop had in former times been a wine-shop , and he had hired the cellar with it . One sharp blow would have done the business . A few quick movements and Paolo 's body would have been thrown down the dark steps beneath , the trap closed again , the safe replaced in its position . It was eleven o'clock then , or thereabouts . He would have sent the workmen to their dinner , and would have returned to the inner studio . They would have supposed afterwards that Don Paolo had left the place with him . He would have gone home and would have said that Paolo had left him -- or , no -- he would have said that Paolo had not been there , for some one might see him leave the workshop alone .