nine o’clock
It seemed an endless time before he came back ; an age , when he came back , before he spoke . ` Well , he has not set off ? ' I asked at last , unable to control my eagerness . Of course he had not ; and at nine o'clock I sent Frison out again ; and at ten and eleven -- always with the same result . I was like a man waiting and looking and , above all , listening for a reprieve ; and as sick as any craven . But when he came back , at eleven , I gave up hope and dressed myself carefully . I suppose I had an odd look then , however , for Frison stopped me at the door , and asked me , with evident alarm , where I was going .