midnight
On the way home he was somewhat pre-occupied -- as much , that is to say , as he was in the habit of allowing . The pencil scrawl supplied food enough for conjectural thought . The writing was undoubtedly fresh , and this was the 26th of the month . Some appointment was made for midnight by the words pencilled on the boat , and the journalist determined that he would be there to see . The question was , should he go alone ? He watched Sidney Carew walking somewhat heavily along in front of him , and decided that he would not seek aid from that quarter . There was no time to communicate with Mr. Bodery , so the only course open to him was to go by himself .