About midnight
To all Dodge 's questions concerning his family , ingenious replies were made . Food and cots had been provided . Pierre and Paul soon left to acquaint Mary Dodge with her husband 's arrival and to arrange for the morrow 's meeting , promising a speedy return . About midnight they came back and reported . Pierre remained only a short time , but Paul stayed until morning , when he left , with caution that William Dodge be sure to keep concealed until the afternoon 's meeting . By a rear entrance both Laniers passed to their hiding-place in the basement , under the trapdoor . Soon followed the strange procedure resulting in the release of these two murderous villains , while their intended victim , who had confessed , still remains unarraigned behind prison bars .