about five
o'clock
And remember this , too , '' and Mr. Bakewell would not perhaps have spoken so freely had his tongue not been unloosed by the generous wine he had been drinking . `` Remember this , too , and , of course , we are all friends here , and what I say will not go beyond this room -- but the evidence to-morrow will surprise you ! '' `` In what way ? '' `` Well , one of the witnesses to-morrow will swear that he saw him not half a mile from Howden Clough , in a state of excitement , about five o'clock on the morning of the murder , that is to say , about half an hour after it took place , according to the doctor 's evidence . You see , we have the servants ' testimony that they heard him come up to the top storey of the house ; that he stood at their bedroom door and then went down again ; that they , wondering what had happened , followed , and saw him go out into the night alone . Of course , on the face of it , it does seem unlikely that a clever fellow such as Stepaside undoubtedly is , with a great career possible for him , should have done the deed so clumsily . But , do n't you see , everything points to him , and unless he brings some extraordinary witnesses on the other side , which he is n't trying to do , mind you , the jury have no alternative but to find him guilty . ''