eleven o'clock
The experiment in the church was arranged for the next morning . Frans and his companion were left in custody for the night , and the colonel went home with a sad heart , but not without some hope that his son would be proved to be innocent . For it was true that Frans had been much at the golden house , and was a great favourite there , and it was not impossible that the temptation to free him had been too strong for Pelle to resist . The morning came , and at eleven o'clock there was an unusual gathering in the parish church . The stillness round the marble sleepers on the monumental tombs was broken , not by the sound of prayer and praise , but by the low hush of murmuring voices and the tramp of eager feet . Pelle came quietly in and took his usual seat . He bowed his head , just from habit , then followed a silent petition , not for a blessing on the services of the sanctuary , but that the innocent might be defended and the guilty brought to justice .