about one o'clock A.M.
Then , at night , his American friend had been followed to the house and followed back again to the hotel . This had been merely humorous ; but to-night there existed more real cause of apprehension . Sheard had received a plain correspondence card , bearing the following , in a small neat hand : `` Do not bolt your front door . Expect me at about one o'clock A.M. '' For a time it had been exciting , absorbingly interesting , to know himself behind the scenes of this mystery play which had all the world for an audience . But it was a situation of quite unique danger . Séverac Bablon was opposed to tremendous interests . Apart from the activity of the ordinary authorities , there were those in the field against this man of mystery to whom money , in furtherance of their end , was no object .