three in the morning
`` Folks are late in Combe to-night , '' said Amyas , as carelessly as he could . Cary looked earnestly at the window , and then sharply enough at Amyas ; but Amyas was busy settling his stirrup ; and Cary rode on , unconscious that every fibre in his companion 's huge frame was trembling like his own . `` Muggy and close down here , '' said Amyas , who , in reality , was quite faint with his own inward struggles . `` We shall be at Stow gate in five minutes , '' said Cary , looking back and down longingly as his horse climbed the opposite hill ; but a turn of the zigzag road hid the cottage , and the next thought was , how to effect an entrance into Stow at three in the morning without being eaten by the ban-dogs , who were already howling and growling at the sound of the horse-hoofs . However , they got safely in , after much knocking and calling , through the postern gate in the high west wall , into a mansion , the description whereof I must defer to the next chapter , seeing that the moon has already sunk into the Atlantic , and there is darkness over land and sea . Sir Richard , in his long gown , was soon downstairs in the hall ; the letter read , and the story told ; but ere it was half finished -- `` Anthony , call up a groom , and let him bring me a horse round . Gentlemen , if you will excuse me five minutes , I shall be at your service . ''