midnight
He did : still the pursuit bided its time . But the hood of the touring-car nosed him inexorably round the arch , away from the avenue de la Grande Armée and into the avenue du Bois . Only when in full course for Porte Dauphine did he appreciate De Morbihan 's design . He was to be rushed out into the midnight solitudes of the Bois de Boulogne and there run down and slain . But now he began to nurse a feeble thrill of hope . Once inside the park enclosure , he reckoned vaguely on some opportunity to make sudden halt , abandon the car and , taking refuge in the friendly obscurity of trees and shrubbery , either make good his escape afoot or stand off the Apaches until police came to his aid . With night to cloak his movements and with a clump of trees to shelter in , he dared believe he would have a chance for his life -- whereas in naked streets any such attempt would prove simply suicidal .