about six o’clock in the morning
An idea seized me , and I went over the flat with a small-tooth comb . There was nobody there , nor any trace of anybody , but I shuttered and bolted all the windows and put the chain on the door . By this time my wits were coming back to me , and I could think again . It took me about an hour to figure the thing out , and I did not hurry , for , unless the murderer came back , I had till about six o'clock in the morning for my cogitations . I was in the soup -- that was pretty clear . Any shadow of a doubt I might have had about the truth of Scudder 's tale was now gone . The proof of it was lying under the table-cloth .