seven o'clock
Unluckily for the dearest hopes of the rescuing party , the miserable groom did not reach the city until almost noon of the day following the abduction . He had lost his way and had wandered all night in the forests . When Miss Tullis failed to return at nightfall , her brother , having in mind the mysterious disappearance of Truxton King and the flight of Countess Ingomede , was preparing to set forth in search of her . A telephone message from Ganlook , fifteen miles north of the city , came at seven o'clock , just as he was leaving the Castle . The speaker purported to be the Countess Prandeville , a very estimable chatelaine who ruled socially over the grim old village of Ganlook . She informed Tullis that his sister was with her for the night , having arrived in the afternoon with a `` frightful headache . '' She would look after the dear child , of whom she was very fond , and would send her down in the morning , when she would surely be herself again .