three o'clock in the afternoon
`` I will do all I can ; you may be sure of that , '' responded Master Putnam emphatically . Here further confidential conversation was prevented by the entrance of the marshall . Master Raymond Astonishes the Magistrates . The examination was to commence at three o'clock in the afternoon , and to be held in the Court House in the town , as being more convenient to Squire Hathorne than the meeting-house in the village . As Master Thomas Putnam 's house and farm were several miles beyond the village , it made quite a long ride for them to attend the examination . He had arranged with his wife , however , to start immediately after their usual twelve o'clock dinner , taking her behind him on a pillion , as was customary at that day -- his daughter Ann being already in town , where she was paying a visit to a friend . He had received however a message about ten o'clock , requesting his immediate presence at Ipswich , on a matter of the most urgent importance ; and though he was greatly puzzled by it , he concluded to go at once to Ipswich and go from there direct to Salem town , without coming home again , as it would be very much out of his road to do so .