midnight
Mr. Otis at once insisted on her having something to eat , and ordered up supper for the whole party . It was a melancholy meal , as hardly any one spoke , and even the twins were awestruck and subdued , as they were very fond of their sister . When they had finished , Mr. Otis , in spite of the entreaties of the little Duke , ordered them all to bed , saying that nothing more could be done that night , and that he would telegraph in the morning to Scotland Yard for some detectives to be sent down immediately . Just as they were passing out of the dining-room , midnight began to boom from the clock tower , and when the last stroke sounded they heard a crash and a sudden shrill cry ; a dreadful peal of thunder shook the house , a strain of unearthly music floated through the air , a panel at the top of the staircase flew back with a loud noise , and out on the landing , looking very pale and white , with a little casket in her hand , stepped Virginia . In a moment they had all rushed up to her . Mrs. Otis clasped her passionately in her arms , the Duke smothered her with violent kisses , and the twins executed a wild war-dance round the group . ` Good heavens !