midnight
She had given Jean one quick , significant glance and then looked demurely around , as if the matter merely bored her . Jean understood that glance and was dumb . Inspector Loup 's waiting tactics did not work . `` So my birdies must coo at midnight on the house-tops , '' he finally remarked . `` Well , monsieur , '' retorted the young man , `` is there any law against that ? '' `` Where 's the lantern ? '' `` Here , '' said Jean , turning the bull 's - eye on the face of the inspector .