Three o'clock
How well he sits his horse . '' ... `` That is the Grand Duke of Baden 's nephew , talking to the King of Wurtemberg now . '' On the buzz and chatter of the spectators fell suddenly three sound strokes , distant , measured , sinister ; the clang of a clock striking three . `` Three o'clock and not a boy scout within sight or hearing ! '' exclaimed the loud ringing voice of Joan Mardle ; `` one can usually hear their drums and trumpets a couple of miles away . '' `` There is the traffic to get through , '' said Sir Leonard Pitherby in an equally high-pitched voice ; `` and of course , '' he added vaguely , `` it takes some time to get the various units together . One must give them a few minutes ' grace . ''