two
o’clock
And now for the first time since I had been in the house , I closed the door of my room . I had a part to perform that rendered the dropping of my disguise indispensable . The old French artist had finished his work , and henceforth must merge into Q. the detective . Shortly before two o'clock my assistants began to arrive . First , Mr. Gryce appeared on the scene and was stowed away in a large room on the other side of mine . Next , two of the most agile , as well as muscular men in the force who , thanks to having taken off their shoes in the lower hall , gained the same refuge without awakening the suspicions of those we were anxious to surprise . Lastly , the landlady who went into the closet to which I had bidden Mrs. Blake retire after leaving in my room the articles I had mentioned .