midnight
`` Thieves ! robbers ! '' he ejaculated under his breath . His first impulse was to cry aloud , but the next moment it occurred to him that the better plan would be to break upon the midnight intruder unawares , and assist his master in vanquishing him . The door was ajar , and in the semi-darkness he beheld Hubert Varrick , his master , struggling desperately with some dark , swaying figure . In that same instant Varrick tripped upon a hassock and fell backward , striking his head heavily against the marble mantel . The butler lost no time .