Final answer:
Time has passed between Act One and Act Two as indicated by the state of the Christmas tree. The suspected thief may have had time to act upon any noise heard from the Annex.
Step-by-step explanation:
The passage of time between Act One and Act Two is not explicitly mentioned in the provided excerpts; however, contextual clues such as the transformation of the Christmas tree suggest some time may have elapsed. Since Act One, the Christmas tree is now described as stripped of its ornaments and having burnt-down candle-ends, indicating that the celebration is over and possibly the next day. This implied passage of time could suggest that the suspected thief who may have heard noise from the Annex has had sufficient time to act upon what they heard, increasing the tension and suspense about what could happen next.