one o'clock
`` Well , uncle , but suppose I do go off to the rock , what chance have you of making things appear better than they are at present ? '' `` I 'll explain that , lad . In the first place , Major Stewart is a gentleman , out-and-out , and will listen to the truth . He swears that the robbery took place at one o'clock in the mornin ' , for he looked at his watch and at the clock of the house , and heard it ring in the town , just as the thieves cleared off over the wall . Now , if I can get your old skipper to take a run here on his return from the West Indies , he 'll swear that you was sailin ' out to the North Sea _ before twelve _ , and that 'll prove that you _ could n't _ have had nothin ' to do with it , d'ye see ? '' `` It sounds well , '' said Ruby dubiously , `` but do you think the lawyers will see things in the light you do ? '' `` Hang the lawyers !