midnight
I drew the curtain and saw that sheets of rain were still being blown slantwise across the foggy radiance of the arc lights . There is a trace of the criminal in me . Perhaps all men feel it at times . Just then , observing the wildness of the storm , I felt the joy of a midnight misdoing , even more than my desire to find the answer to MacMechem 's question . `` I shall be glad to know how you propose to gain a second admittance , '' said Estabrook , when , after tripping over the wet cobblestones and bending our shoulders to the drive of the cold rain , we had groped through the black alley to the dimly lit garage . `` I 'll also be glad to know why you suppose you can draw a statement from the old woman . '' `` My dear fellow , '' said I , `` there is the cause of many of your troubles !