midnight
`` Clayton was dreadfully shocked when I told him , and we decided not to name their flight until to-morrow ; he and I , with my man and the butler -LRB- trump of an old fellow he is -RRB- , fairly ran to Rose Cottage and succeeded in getting out , unharmed , Mrs. Meltonbury and a maid ; we sent my man to the village to hurry up the firemen , and then I flew back to you , dearest , knowing you would be anxious as to your uncle . I left him looking more like himself than I have seen him for years , quietly talking to Lady Esmondet and Mrs. Claxton ; in my haste to be with you I out-ran breath and then had to wait her pleasure to catch up to me . No fear of the revellers suspecting anything ; the ball is at its height and the hells were not rung . They took the midnight express through to Liverpool ; thence they sail to New York . '' `` Did you compel Melty to own up to that much ? '' said the little detective , her tiny , white race full of interest . `` We did ; and pursuit would he useless . ''