noon
Truth to tell , Tom , though he was still alert to the interests of his employers , felt anything but important . The thought of Harry Hazelton 's unknown fate caused a great , choking lump in his throat as Reade stepped from the pier to land . At the first blush of dawn Tom despatched the tireless Nicolas to Blixton to notify the police of the explosions and of the disappearance of Harry Hazelton . Two men in blue , wearing stars on their coats , came over within an hour , walked about and looked wise until noon . They discovered nothing whatever , and their theories did not strike Reade as being worthy of attention . As soon as possible the divers were sent down at the two wrecked parts of the retaining wall . These men reported that the breaches extended ten feet beneath the surface at some points ; only eight feet at other points .