nine o'clock
-- What should he do ? In the silence : `` No good stopping any longer , '' came the whispered voice of the shorter detective ; `` I have had a good look around the house , and there is nobody here . '' ... Soames literally held his breath . `` We 'll get along down to the Dock Gate , '' was the almost inaudible reply ; `` I am meeting Stringer there at nine o'clock . '' Walking softly , the Scotland Yard men passed out of the theater . The night held yet another adventure in store for Soames . His encounter with the two Scotland Yard men had finally expelled all thoughts of pleasure from his mind .