midnight
Then the light in the room darkened gradually , the sound dwindled into delicious silence , and the last waking impressions of the weary Midwinter came peacefully to an end . The next event of which he was conscious was a sharp ringing at the closed door of the hotel . He started to his feet , with the ready alacrity of a man whose life has accustomed him to wake at the shortest notice . An instant 's look round showed him that the room was empty , and a glance at his watch told him that it was close on midnight . The noise made by the sleepy servant in opening the door , and the tread the next moment of quick footsteps in the passage , filled him with a sudden foreboding of something wrong . As he hurriedly stepped forward to go out and make inquiry , the door of the coffee-room opened , and the doctor stood before him . `` I am sorry to disturb you , '' said Mr. Hawbury .