midnight
When he found himself in his lodgings he put a match to the ready-laid fire , and presently made himself some tea . Then he sat idly through the evening , for the most part staring into the glowing coals , occasionally taking up a book for a few minutes , and throwing it aside again with a sigh of weariness . As it got late he shivered so with cold , in spite of the fire , that he had to sit in his overcoat . When it was past midnight he began to pace the room , making impatient gestures , and often resting his head upon his hands as if it ached . It must have been about a quarter to one when there was the sound of a vehicle pulling up in the street below , followed by a knock at the door . Julian went down himself , and admitted Mr. Woodstock . `` What can it mean ? ''