twelve o'clock
Winter rushed to the bathroom , and Furneaux crept languidly to bed . Before going to Knoleworth , Mr. Franklin consulted with Tomlin as to a suitable dinner , to which the other guests staying in the inn , namely , Mr. Peters and the Scotland Yard gentleman -- the little man with the French name -- might be invited . This important point settled , Mr. Franklin caught an early train , and was absent all day , being , in fact , closeted with Superintendent Fowler and a Treasury solicitor . Furneaux was sound asleep long after twelve o'clock , and swore at Tomlin in French when the landlord ventured to arouse him . Tomlin went downstairs scratching his head . `` Least said soonest mended , '' he communed , `` but we may all be murdered in our beds if them 's the sort of ` tecs we ` ave to look arter us . '' However , he cheered up towards night .