nine o'clock
But his professional experience is good for him . We have no need to describe his false turns . Even aniseed would have been useless in that snow . At last , just as the Somerville bells ring for nine o'clock , Harrington also rings triumphant at the door of the little five-roomed cottage , where his lantern has already revealed the magic number 99 . Ring ! as for a gilt-edged special delivery ! Door thrown open by a solid man with curly red hair , unshaven since Sunday , in his shirtsleeves and with kerosene lamp in his hand .