about midnight
`` Well , of course we none of us thought of him in connection with this affair until since his sudden disappearance yesterday , but I am inclined to think that he is to be regarded in the light of an accessory after the fact . I think it very probable that Mrs. LaGrange has employed him since the murder to assist her in concealing evidences of the crime , and that is why I suggested dragging the lake in search of what may be hidden there ; but , according to his own story , he was in the city that night until some time after the murder was committed . '' `` Yes , according to his own story , but in reality he did not go to the city at all that night . More than that , he was seen in this vicinity about midnight with a couple of suspicious looking characters . '' `` By George ! when did you learn that ? '' `` I knew it when Brown gave his testimony at the inquest . ''