a quarter past
ten
My wallet lay open near by . I took it up quickly to glance through its contents . As far as I could discover , nothing had been taken except the cheque I had written out , believing I was to assist Jack Marlowe . Eagerly I glanced at my watch , and found it was already a quarter past ten . The scoundrels had , no doubt , already been to the bank , cashed my cheque , and were by this time clear away ! Remembering Sylvia , I drew my revolver , which still remained in my hip-pocket , and , finding the door unlocked , went forth to search for her . The fact that the door was now unlocked showed that some one had entered there during my unconsciousness , and released me .