nearly three in the afternoon
The laudanum I poured out to account for its presence in his stomach , in case of a _ post-mortem _ examination . The theory naturally would be that he first intended to poison himself , but , after swallowing a little of the drug , was either disgusted with its taste , or changed his mind from other motives , and chose the dagger . These arrangements made , I walked out , leaving the gas burning , locked the door with my vise , and went to bed . Simon 's death was not discovered until nearly three in the afternoon . The servant , astonished at seeing the gas burning -- the light streaming on the dark landing from under the door -- peeped through the keyhole and saw Simon on the bed . She gave the alarm . The door was burst open , and the neighborhood was in a fever of excitement .