about five in the afternoon
It set forth , in reference to Muhlen 's general habits , that this gentleman had hitherto not attended to his account ; he had not been urgently pressed for a settlement . One did not like to incommode foreign visitors with bills ; it annoyed them so much that they sometimes migrated to other hotels and made debts there , debts which in certain unexpected cases were liquidated in full while the former and equally legitimate ones remained unpaid -- which was disheartening . In regard to his recent mode of life , the document contained the suggestive fact that Muhlen had not taken his midday meal at the hotel for some time past . He was strangely fond of going out in the late mornings , the proprietor averred ; it might be , to bathe ; he returned at about five in the afternoon after lunching , presumably , in some small restaurant by the shore . This declaration , signed by a respected citizen , soon leaked into publicity . Taken in conjunction with the discovery of his money it was an eye-opener to the whole community , and to nobody more than to the judge himself . Signor Malipizzo argued , with his usual penetration , that Muhlen had intended to return to his quarters as he had always done of late .