eight o'clock in the
evening
How was it possible for two attempts of this kind to take place ? Neither the English detectives nor their French colleagues possessed the slightest clue on the subject . On Whit-Sunday , Ganimard did not come home , nor on the Monday either , nor during the five weeks that followed . In London , on Whit-Monday , Holmlock Shears took a cab at eight o'clock in the evening to drive to the station . He had hardly stepped in , when he tried to alight , probably feeling a presentiment of danger . But two men jumped into the hansom , one on either side , flung him back on the seat and kept him there between them , or rather under them . All this happened in sight of nine or ten witnesses , who had no time to interfere .