twelve o'clock
Great had been Bell 's cunning , but Betsy had outwitted her . Passing the house on the eventful night , Betsy had observed Marget Dundas , Bell 's sister , open the door and creep cautiously to the window , the chinks in the outside shutters of which she cunningly closed up with `` tow . '' As in a flash the disgusted Betsy saw what Bell was up to , and , removing the tow , planted herself behind the dilapidated dyke opposite and awaited events . Questioned at a special meeting of the office-bearers in the vestry , she admitted that the lamp was extinguished soon after twelve o'clock , though the fire burned brightly all night . There had been unnecessary feasting during the night , and six eggs were consumed before breakfast-time . Asked how she knew this , she admitted having counted the eggshells that Marget had thrown out of doors in the morning . This , with the testimony of the persons from whom Sandy had sought condolence on the Saturday night , was the case for the prosecution .