three o'clock
precisely
He had received however a message about ten o'clock , requesting his immediate presence at Ipswich , on a matter of the most urgent importance ; and though he was greatly puzzled by it , he concluded to go at once to Ipswich and go from there direct to Salem town , without coming home again , as it would be very much out of his road to do so . According to this new arrangement , Mistress Ann would take the other horse , and a lady 's saddle , and ride to town by herself . They had still a third horse , but that was already in town with her daughter . The Court House was but a short distance from the prison ; and , as it was a good Puritan fashion to be punctual to the minute , at three o'clock precisely Squires Hathorne and Corwin were in their arm-chairs , and Master Raymond standing on the raised platform in front of them . As the latter looked carefully around the room , he saw that neither Thomas Putnam nor his mischievous wife , nor his own best friend Joseph Putnam , was present . Squire Hathorne also observed that Mistress Ann Putnam was not present ; but , as she was usually very punctual , he concluded that she would be there in a few minutes , and after some whispered words with his colleague , resolved to proceed with the examination . Turning to the young Englishman , he said in his usual stern tones : -- `` Ellis Raymond , you are brought before authority , upon high suspicion of sundry acts of witchcraft .