about midnight
After this he turned a light on the case from the other side , giving it an entirely different appearance , holding up the slateful of charges against Danvers , and sponging them carefully off one by one , until I was amazed at his abilities . There were three important gentlemen , conversant with the duke 's habits , to prove that the duke 's lung trouble had accustomed him to fresh air , that he slept with all of his windows raised , and that it was his custom to have the window open near him , no matter what the weather . And following came Huey , with the statements that both of the pistols had been at Stair House since before Mr. Danvers 's marriage , and that he had put one of them , with a new hagged flint , in the desk at which his grace was writing , within a few days of the murder . Father Michel followed , saying that Danvers had spent the evening of the murder with him , trying to persuade him to go on a sail for a few days , leaving his house about midnight in a composed and quiet frame of mind , with his cap in his hand , it being his custom to go about in all kinds of weather in that manner , a habit contracted at the English school where he was educated . And before any one could stop him , Father Michel , who I knew was tutored to the illegal conduct by Magendie , said earnestly : `` I consider it my duty to state , with no betrayal of my sacred offices , that I know , by the confessional Mr. Carmichael to be innocent of this foul deed . '' Pitcairn was roaring objections in a minute , with Carew sustaining him , as was but legally decent ; but it mattered little , for the jurors had heard , and I knew that the holy man 's words would stick in their minds at verdict time . Following Father Michel came two respectable serving-men from Arran , declaring that early the morning after the murder Mr. Danvers had sent them to Leith to say that he no longer wanted the boat , and that they had found its owner , the one who had testified for the prosecution , in such a state of intoxication that they could not make their errand clear , and left the message with his errand-boy , who was produced to verify the truth of their statements .