about one
o'clock
`` There had been others , '' was all he would say , `` and never a trace of 'em ` ave we ever seen ! '' Telephoning the Brelliers was a mere matter of minutes , and by that means Merriton made perfectly sure that Wynne had not put in an appearance at Withersby Hall . Brellier himself answered the phone , and said that he was just thinking that as Wynne had n't turned up yet , they must indeed have been making a night of it at the Towers . `` However , '' he continued , `` if you say you all retired around about one o'clock , and Wynne left you soon after ten -- well , I ca n't think what has become of him ... '' `` He went out to investigate those devilish flames ! '' remarked Merriton , as a rather shamefaced explanation . Then he fairly heard the wires jump with the force of Brellier 's exclamation . `` Eh -- what ?