midnight
The milk carts rumbled loud , and here and there , even in that wealthy quarter , a few early workers crossed the park paths . It was day . She rose , tied a thick green veil over her hat and face , lifted the tin box by its handle and opened her door softly . In that house it was still midnight . She went quietly down the corridor , through a service hall , down some narrow stairs , through the warm kitchen , clean for the new labour of the day , then took out a key from her wallet , turned it gently and stepped into the area-way . This had an iron gate and a second key opened it : once through and the last gate locked , she put her hand through the bars and slipped both keys under the metal frame laid out ready for the milk bottles . No one was in sight .