midnight
`` There may be news . '' Sir Alfred re-entered the larger library and was absent for several minutes . When he returned , the message was written out in lead pencil : -- Leave London June 4th . Have flares midnight Buckingham Palace , St. Paul 's steps , gardens in front of Savoy . Your last report received . Granet glanced eagerly back at the original message . It consisted of a few perfectly harmless sentences concerning various rates of exchange .