the hour of one
It was no time for deliberation . Roupall and the others slunk silently and sorrowingly away , and the little group -- Dalton , Barbara , the Jewess , Fleetword , and Robin -- stood nearly together on the ledge . Colonel Jones had accompanied the soldiers by direct orders from the Protector , who , from the firing of the ship , imagined for a time that Dalton and Robin had acted with treachery -- treachery which , with his usual promptness , he adopted the immediate means to counteract . Robin advanced to meet the troop , and addressing Colonel Jones respectfully , said , `` You will have the goodness to observe , sir , that Hugh Dalton is not only unarmed , but has assembled round him those whose presence were commanded at Cecil Place before the hour of one . '' Colonel Jones vouchsafed no reply to Robin 's observation ; but it was not the less heeded on that account . He inquired , in a stern voice , `` By what means have ye wrought the destruction of yonder vessel ? '' `` I will tell hereafter '' was the only reply he could elicit from Robin Hays .