about midnight
Margaret '' -- she held out her hand with an affectionate gesture and with a sob her step-mother kissed her . `` How did this envelope get back inside our safe ? '' asked Kent a moment later , picking it up and displaying the red seal , intact save for the broken corner . `` I went downstairs about midnight or a little later and into the library , '' confessed Helen . `` What was my surprise and terror to see Grimes holding the envelope . To me it meant father 's exposure as a forger . I had a revolver in my hand and struck before I thought .