about ten
o'clock
It was a five-dollar gold piece of a date back toward the beginning of the century . To make assurance doubly sure , Mr. Delamere summoned the cook from the kitchen in the back yard . In answer to her master 's questions , Sally averred that Mr. Tom had got up very early , had knocked at her window , -- she slept in a room off the kitchen in the yard , -- and had told her that she need not bother about breakfast for him , as he had had a cold bite from the pantry ; that he was going hunting and fishing , and would be gone all day . According to Sally , Mr. Tom had come in about ten o'clock the night before . He had forgotten his night-key , Sandy was out , and she had admitted him with her own key . He had said that he was very tired and was going , immediately to bed . Mr. Delamere seemed perplexed ; the crime had been committed later in the evening than ten o'clock .