twenty-five minutes after five
With dragging steps and bent back she disappeared through the vestibule of the stairway . Then Saniel continued his walk like an ordinary passer - by until she had time to reach the first story ; then , turning , he returned to the porte-cochere and entered quietly . By the gaslight in the vestibule he saw by his watch , which he held in his hand , that it was fourteen minutes after five o'clock . Then , if his calculation was right , at twenty-four or twenty-five minutes after five he must pass before the lodge , which should still be empty at that moment . On the staircase above him he heard the heavy step of the concierge ; she had lighted the gas on the first story , and continued on her way slowly . With rapid but light steps he mounted behind her , and , on reaching Caffie 's door , he rang the bell , taking care not to ring too loudly or too timidly ; then he knocked three times , as Caffie had instructed him . Was Caffie alone ?