two in the morning
It was a woman 's voice -- a maid , no doubt -- yet , for an instant , she had fancied that the voice resembled his mother 's . But it could n't have been , for Palla had given her name , and Mrs. Shotwell would have spoken to her -- unless -- perhaps his mother -- disapproved of something -- of her calling Jim at such an hour ... . Or of something ... perhaps of their friendship ... of herself , perhaps -- She heard the clock strike and looked across at the mantel . What was Ilse doing at half-past two in the morning ? Where could she be ? Palla involuntarily turned her head and looked at the photograph . Of course Ilse was safe with a man like John Estridge ... .