about nine o'clock
The first rage of discovery had abated ; he knew quite clearly that he was inflicting grievous punishment , and that gratified him . There was also indeed a curious pleasure in the determination of a long and painful period of vague misunderstanding by this unexpected crisis . He was acutely conscious of the silence on the other side of the folding-doors , he kept up a succession of deliberate little noises , beat books together and brushed clothes , to intimate the resolute prosecution of his preparations . That was about nine o'clock . At eleven he was still busy ... . Darkness came suddenly upon him . It was Madam Gadow 's economical habit to turn off all her gas at that hour unless she chanced to be entertaining friends .