eight o'clock
You see , I knew that old Hill left here about dusk every afternoon , so I guessed the coast would be clear . `` Clarkson 's fitted me out with the duds and the make-up and I got down to Wentfield by half-past six . The fog was so infernally thick that it took me more than an hour to get here on foot . It must have been close on eight o'clock when I pushed open your front gate . I thought of going boldly into the kitchen and asking for you , but , fortunately , I decided to have a preliminary prowl round the place . Through a chink in the curtains of the library I saw you and a stranger talking together . The stranger was quite unknown to me ; but one thing about him I spotted right off .