ten o’clock
asked Mr. Blake impatiently . `` You must wait a little longer , '' I said . `` I will stay and keep you company till the time comes . '' It was then not ten o'clock . Inquiries which I had made , at various times , of Betteredge and Mr. Blake , had led me to the conclusion that the dose of laudanum given by Mr. Candy could not possibly have been administered before eleven . I had accordingly determined not to try the second dose until that time . We talked a little ; but both our minds were preoccupied by the coming ordeal .