midnight
He had been a soldier -- had wandered a good deal about the world -- was a bold , talking , reckless fellow -- of a character thoroughly profligate ; and there were many stories afloat about him , though none were clearly made out . In short , he was suspected of having occasionally taken to the high road ; and a stranger who stopped once at my little inn , assured me privately , that though he could not positively swear to his person , he felt convinced that he had been stopped a year before on the London road by Houseman . Notwithstanding all this , as Houseman had some respectable connections in the town -- among his relations , by the by , was Mr. Aram -- as he was a thoroughly boon companion -- a good shot -- a bold rider -- excellent at a song , and very cheerful and merry , he was not without as much company as he pleased ; and the first night , he and Mr. Clarke came together , they grew mighty intimate ; indeed , it seemed as if they had met before . On the night Mr. Clarke disappeared , I had been on an excursion with some gentlemen , and in consequence of the snow which had been heavy during the latter part of the day , I did not return to Knaresbro ' till past midnight . In walking through the town , I perceived two men engaged in earnest conversation : one of them , I am sure , was Clarke ; the other was wrapped up in a great coat , with the cape over his face , but the watchman had met the same man alone at an earlier hour , and putting aside the cape , perceived that it was Houseman . No one else was seen with Clarke after that hour . '' `` But was not Houseman examined ? ''