two o’clock in the morning
` I can , ' he answered , with an ugly look ; ` and I will if you do n't keep a quiet tongue . ' ` I will keep quiet no longer , ' boldly rising and facing Vandeloup , with her hands clenched at her sides ; ` I have tried to shield you faithfully through all your wickedness , but now that you accuse me of committing a crime , which accusation you know is false , I accuse you , Gaston Vandeloup , and your accomplice , yonder , ' wheeling round and pointing to Pierre , who shrank away , ` of murdering Randolph Villiers , at the Black Hill , Ballarat , for the sake of a nugget of gold he carried . ' Vandeloup looked at her disdainfully . ` You are mad , ' he said , in a cold voice ; ` this is the raving of a lunatic ; there is no proof of what you say ; it was proved conclusively that myself and Pierre were asleep at our hotel while M. Villiers was with Jarper at two o'clock in the morning . ' ` I know that was proved , ' she retorted , ` and by some jugglery on your part ; but , nevertheless , I saw you and him , ' pointing again to Pierre , ` murder Villiers . ' ` You saw it , ' echoed Vandeloup , with a disbelieving smile ; ` tell me how ? ' ` Ah ! '