nearly ten o'clock
There are always eccentric people in the world , and appearances are very apt to be deceptive . There was a confident air about the Major which seemed like that of a man with a balance at his banker 's . The Major went back to the Rose and Crown , ate a comfortable little dinner , which he had ordered before setting out for Shorncliffe , paid his bill , and made all arrangements for starting by the first train for London on the following morning . It was nearly ten o'clock by the time he had done this : but late as it was , Major Vernon put on his hat , turned his poodle collar up about his ears , and went out into Lisford High Street . There was scarcely one glimmer of light in the street as the Major walked along it . He took the road leading to Maudesley Abbey , and walked at a brisk pace , heedless of the snow , which was still falling thick and fast . He was covered from head to foot with snow when he stopped before the stone porch , and rang a bell , that made a clanging noise in the stillness of the night .