twelve o'clock
Thoughts of the sad consequences for others as well as himself were crowding on his mind . The blinds and shutters were all closed in front of the Manor , and it was not likely that Sir Christopher would be aware of anything that was passing outside ; but Mr. Gilfil felt that Caterina 's disappearance could not long be concealed from him . The coroner 's inquest would be held shortly ; she would be inquired for , and then it would be inevitable that the Baronet should know all . At twelve o'clock , when all search and inquiry had been in vain , and the coroner was expected every moment , Mr. Gilfil could no longer defer the hard duty of revealing this fresh calamity to Sir Christopher , who must otherwise have it discovered to him abruptly . The Baronet was seated in his dressing-room , where the dark window-curtains were drawn so as to admit only a sombre light . It was the first time Mr. Gilfil had had an interview with him this morning , and he was struck to see how a single day and night of grief had aged the fine old man . The lines in his brow and about his mouth were deepened ; his complexion looked dull and withered ; there was a swollen ridge under his eyes ; and the eyes themselves , which used to cast so keen a glance on the present , had the vacant expression which tells that vision is no longer a sense , but a memory .