midnight
As she passed through the brightly lit outer compound , stepping briskly toward the big gate , she was aware of more than one lurking shadow behind the blue-ground heaps . Also , it seemed to her that various guards were more alert than usual in their guardhouses . But she gave no faintest sign of observing these things , greeted the guard at the gate pleasantly , and , passing out to the street , stepped into the waiting carriage and was driven home . It wanted a few minutes to midnight when she stole from the veranda door of her room once more , dressed in her dim , straight gown of moonlight velvet with a swathe of colourless veil about her head and , sliding softly through the garden , went out into the quiet streets of the town until she came , at last , to a little indistinguished door next to a jeweller 's window , whereon was neatly inscribed the name , `` Syke Ravenal . '' On knocking gently three times , the door opened mechanically to admit her . Inside all was dark ; but a few paces down a passage brought her to a door that opened into a small but brightly lighted room . An elderly man was seated at a table engaged in beautifully illuminating a parchment manuscript .