nine o'clock
I 'm an awful idiot to talk like this , old boy , but I 've lost my courage a bit . ' And so for nearly half-an-hour the American remained watching by the lad as sleep hovered about and gradually settled on him . As Selwyn quietly stole from the room the City 's clocks were striking three . It was after nine o'clock when Selwyn woke from a deep , refreshing sleep . Hurrying into the other room , he found no sign of his guests . ` When did these gentlemen leave ? ' he asked of his servant , who had answered his ring .