midnight
For God 's sake , come down at once ; there is a strange woman in my flat , apparently in a dying condition ! ' '' `` What did you do ? '' `` I ran into my bedroom and slipped on my dressing-gown , leaving Mr. Leroux in the entrance-hall . Then , with the clock chiming the last stroke of midnight , we came out together and I closed my door behind me . There was no light on the stair ; but our conversation -- Mr. Leroux was speaking in a very high-pitched voice '' ... `` What was he saying ? '' `` He was explaining to me how some woman , unknown to him , had interrupted his work a few minutes before by ringing his door-bell . '' ... Inspector Dunbar held up his hand .