two
o'clock
`` How long did it continue ? '' asked the detective . `` Oh , only just as though someone was stealing along the corridor . We often hear movements at nights , because Short is always astir at two o'clock , giving the master his medicine . If it had n't ha ' been for the creaking I should not have taken notice of it . But I lay quite wide awake for over half an hour -- until Short came banging at our doors , telling us to get up at once , as we were wanted downstairs . '' `` Well , '' exclaimed the inspector , `` now , I want to ask all of you a very simple question , and wish to obtain an honest and truthful reply .