midnight
The question is what did you hear ? '' The other man appeared embarrassed and sat silent a space . `` I think it 's only right that you should know , '' he said . `` Well -- according to Cartier -- there was a lady here when he came in close on midnight , and he gave folks the impression that she stayed here altogether . That would n't possibly have counted for so much , but it also got about that she made use of her place to give you information that was worth a good deal about the business of Hallam and the folks she worked for . '' Alton 's face grew almost purple , but the dark hue faded and left it unusually pale again . `` That , '' he said very slowly , `` is a damnable lie .