Ten o'clock
But if the limousine had possessed a thousand ears they would have been rendered useless in the stormy racket made by Peter 's muffler and the thunderous roar of the exhaust as the car got under way . Sixty miles lay between them and Crowndale . Tommy Gray guaranteed that the distance could be covered in three hours , even over the vile mountain roads . Ten o'clock would find them at the Grand Palace Hotel , none the worse for wear , provided -LRB- he always put it parenthetically -RRB- they lived to tell the tale ! The luggage had gone on ahead of them earlier in the day . Peter 's efforts to stay behind Tommy 's venerable but surprisingly energetic Buick were the cause of many a gasp and shudder from the couple who sat behind him in the bounding car . He had orders to keep back of Tommy but never to lose sight of his tail light .