midnight
He then called two servants and gave them orders quietly , which must have been to search the house and grounds for Monsieur de Pepicot . As we returned to the hall , the Count questioned me , watching me sharply the while . I was perfectly safe in telling the literal truth , though not all of it : how Monsieur de Pepicot was a stranger to me , how I had never spoken to him before yesterday , how I knew nothing of his business , and so forth . Of course I said nothing of his midnight walk or of having conversed with him at all after going to bed . The Count 's mystification and annoyance were manifest , the more so when , after some time , the servants returned to say that the missing man could not be found . When he had heard their report , the Count was very angry . `` Name of the devil , then , how did he get out ?