This was the time appointed for the meeting with the detective, and he had been at the place a quarter of an hour before, which fully explained why the detective had not been there; and probably he had been in his room.

This conclusion seemed to cut off all hope that he had witnessed the attack upon him.
The carriage stopped at the beach below the fort.

It was the bathing-place for the town, and at this hour it was entirely deserted.
The person on the box with the driver was the first to alight, and he ran down to the water.

He returned in a few minutes to the carriage, the other ruffians retaining their places.
"The boat is not here yet, but it is coming," said this man, reporting to the captain.
"All right; I told the mate to be here at nine o'clock, and it has just struck that hour," replied Flanger.

"Go down to the water, driver." The vehicle moved down to the water's edge and stopped again.