seven o'clock
There was a word of command ; and the guard moved off at a sharp walk , with the horses in the centre , and as they turned , the lad saw in the torchlight the old man 's face drawn and wrinkled with sorrow , and great tears running down it . The Rector leaned against his own wall , with his hands over his face ; and Anthony looked at him with growing suspicion and terror as the flare of the torches on the trees faded , and the noise of the troop died away round the corner . The village had never known such an awakening as on the morning that followed Sir Nicholas ' arrest . Before seven o'clock every house knew it , and children ran half-dressed to the outlying hamlets to tell the story . Very little work was done that day , for the estate was disorganised ; and the men had little heart for work ; and there were groups all day on the green , which formed and re-formed and drifted here and there and discussed and sifted the evidence . It was soon known that the Rectory household had had a foremost hand in the affair . The groom , who had been present at the actual departure of the prisoners had told the story of the black figure that ran out of the door , and of what was cried at the old man 's knee ; and how he had not moved nor spoken in answer ; and Thomas , the Rectory boy , was stopped as he went across the green in the evening and threatened and encouraged until he told of the stroke on the church-bell , and the Rectory key , and the little company that had sat all the afternoon in the kitchen over their ale .