midnight
When one recollects that all the _ escrocs _ of Europe gather at the _ tapis vert _ in winter and spring , it is not surprising that they close their eyes to such minor crimes as theft , blackmail and false pretences . In his excited and unnerved state , he pictured Ogier calling upon Lady Ranscomb and questioning her closely concerning her young English friend who was so frequently seen with her daughter . That would , surely , end their friendship ! Lady Ranscomb would never allow her daughter to associate further with a man accused of attempting to murder a notorious woman after midnight ! The car presently descended the steep rocky road which wound up over the promontory and back again down to the sea , until they passed through the little frontier town of Ventimiglia . It was late , and few people were about in the narrow , ill-lit streets . Suddenly , a couple of Italian carabineers stopped the car .