midnight
He 's come home sooner than he expected , and I should n't wonder if he 's going round by the road to take us by surprise . '' `` He ca n't do that , '' answered Acton , `` because I 've got the key of the shed , and the door-key 's hung up inside . '' Acton remained watching at the window while the others hastily cleared away all traces of the feast ; the Triple Alliance retired to their own room , and nothing further was heard or seen of the mysterious visitor . The next morning it was discovered that Mr. Blake had not returned from Fenley , and the five other members of the supper club were inclined to regard Diggory 's vision of the midnight intruder as a sort of waking nightmare , resulting from an overdose of cake and pork-pie . Two days later Cross came into the schoolroom in a great state of excitement . `` Look here , you fellows , '' he exclaimed : `` some one keeps taking away my things out of the shed , and not putting them back . Last week I missed a saw and two chisels , and now that brace and nearly all the bits are gone .