midnight
The emotion of fear is a strange and complex one . In this breath of decay rising to his nostril , Cairn found something fearsome . He opened the door , stepped out on to the landing , and closed the door behind him . At an hour close upon midnight , Dr. Bruce Cairn , who was about to retire , received a wholly unexpected visit from his son . Robert Cairn followed his father into the library and sat down in the big , red leathern easy-chair . The doctor tilted the lamp shade , directing the light upon Robert 's face . It proved to be slightly pale , and in the clear eyes was an odd expression -- almost a hunted look .