about midnight
The maid was handsome , and my valet in love with her . They knew they had to deal with a young and inexperienced couple , whom they fancied they could impose upon without much difficulty . They laid a plan , and executed it with so much skill , that they reduced us to a state from which it was never afterwards possible for us to extricate ourselves . `` Having supped one evening at Lescaut 's , it was about midnight when we returned home . I asked for my valet , and Manon for her maid ; neither one nor the other could be found . They had not been seen in the house since eight o'clock , and had gone out , after having some cases carried before them , according to orders which they pretended to have received from me . I at once foresaw a part of the truth , but my suspicions were infinitely surpassed by what presented itself on going into my room .