three o'clock before
He walked there nearly the whole night , thinking of it , and as he dragged himself off at last to his inn , had almost come to have but one desire , -- namely , that he should find her out , that the evidence should be conclusive , that it should be proved , and so brought to an end . Then he would destroy her , and destroy that man , -- and afterwards destroy himself , so bitter to him would be his ignominy . He almost revelled in the idea of the tragedy he would make . It was three o'clock before he was in his bedroom , and then he wrote his letter to Mr. Outhouse before he took himself to his bed . It was as follows : -- Venice , Oct. 4 , 186 -- . Information of a certain kind , on which I can place a firm reliance , has reached me , to the effect that Colonel Osborne has been allowed to visit at your house during the sojourn of my wife under your roof . I will thank you to inform me whether this be true ; as , although I am confident of my facts , it is necessary , in reference to my ulterior conduct , that I should have from you either an admission or a denial of my assertion .