10:30 A.M.
His face had lost all colour by the time he had stretched his tall form on the wide leather couch which stood ready for just such occupants . Charlotte went back to the door and rang the bell ; then , as nobody appeared , she explored the lower part of the house for Mrs. Fields in vain . Returning , she caught sight for the first time of a little memorandum on the doctor 's desk : '' _ Out . Return 10:30 A.M. _ '' She glanced at the clock . It was exactly quarter past ten . She studied her brother 's face anxiously . The stain upon the cloth was rapidly growing larger .