nearly three o'clock
There must be action , and quick action . With the Prince away for the night the opportunity could never be better . He was bent now on taking advantage of it . It was nearly three o'clock when he left his room , walked along the heavily carpeted hall , and descended the stairs in the front of the house to the second floor . The dim light was flowing from the hall below but no lamps were lighted above . He turned , crouching , and made his way along toward Koltsoff 's rooms . Footsteps sounded on the stairs and as he flattened himself against the wall the skirts of a woman fluttered past him .