About nine o'clock
Now he had a friend in the house , who was interested in securing his escape . Not only this , but there was a fair chance of recovering the box for which he was seeking . On the whole , therefore , Rufus was in very good spirits . About nine o'clock he heard a step on the stairs , which he recognized as that of his step-father . He had good reason to remember that step . Many a time while his mother was alive , and afterwards while they were living in Leonard Street , he had listened to it coming up the rickety staircase , and dreaded the entrance of the man whose presence was never welcome . After some fumbling at the lock the door opened , and Martin entered .