about two o'clock in the
morning
And in the Incognito , whether of this or of some other world unknown to us , he obstinately and quite indisputably has remained to this day ... It was two nights after the disappearance of Mr. Skinner that the Podbourne doctor was out late near Hankey , driving in his buggy . He had been up all night assisting another undistinguished citizen into this curious world of ours , and his task accomplished , he was driving homeward in a drowsy mood enough . It was about two o'clock in the morning , and the waning moon was rising . The summer night had gone cold , and there was a low-lying whitish mist that made things indistinct . He was quite alone -- for his coachman was ill in bed -- and there was nothing to be seen on either hand but a drifting mystery of hedge running athwart the yellow glare of his lamps , and nothing to hear but the clitter-clatter of his horses and the gride and hedge echo of his wheels . His horse was as trustworthy as himself , and one does not wonder that he dozed ... .