midnight
I 'd met him some time before in connection with his telepathy and wireless waves theory . It was picturesque stuff for my purpose , but was n't in it with what the old fellow had really done . He showed me -- well , that does n't matter . The point is , that good , staid , self-centred , or rather science-centred , Dr. Schermerhorn was standing at midnight in a dark alley on the Barbary Coast in San Francisco talking to an individual whose facial outline at least was not ornamental . My curiosity , or professional instinct , whichever you please , was all aroused . I flattened myself against the wall . The first remark I lost .