about six o'clock in the
evening
Soon the room was in pitch darkness . Then it was he became aware that someone was in the room . He listened attentively , but could hear nothing ; nevertheless the presence of a man or woman made itself `` felt '' beyond a doubt . He judged the time of day to be about six o'clock in the evening , when suddenly somebody touched him -- a hand in the darkness . He started , and called out ; but there was no answer . Some minutes later a man spoke . The voice was not that of either of the men he had met at Gastrell 's reception ; he could swear to that , he said .