midnight
`` I expected it , '' he said to himself , and all the gaiety went out of his face . `` She has found something out . '' It was too late to do anything that night . He felt resentfully conscious that he should not sleep if he went to bed ; so he employed the midnight hours in completing some items of work which ought to be done on the following day . Before it was light he had packed a hand-bag , and departed to catch the early train . He sent a telegram from Peterborough to say that he was on the way . Of course , it was late when he reached Strathleckie , and he assured himself with some complacency that Elizabeth would expect no conversation with him until next morning .