three o'clock in the morning
He rather welcomed this occasion , too , because he intended to be master now , and , having once mastered the regiment , he felt he would have no difficulty in controlling it in any future emergency . To him , as he sat in his cabinet maturing his plans for the morrow , came a message from his niece , asking admittance . The privilege was , of course , instantly granted , and Laure d'Aumenier presently entered the room . `` Have you come , my child , '' began the old man , regarding her tenderly , for in the few years she had been with him he had learned to estimate the worth of her character and love her as she deserved , `` to explain this mystery , to tell me why you declare that the presence of a man in the room of a woman of my house at three o'clock in the morning is innocent ? I repeat , '' he went on reassuringly , `` that I can not conceive of or admit any wrong on your part , and that makes the situation more impossible of explanation . '' `` My uncle , '' answered the Countess , `` I can only say that Monsieur Jean Marteau is not guilty , as he seems . '' `` And I can quite believe that , '' said the old Marquis .