midnight
He said he was born in the West Indies ; but he was always prying into matters that did not concern him , and I have several times found him standing at the door when we were talking about family matters . I reproved him for it ; but it did no good . Your father intended to discharge him as soon as he returned from Washington . '' Christy went to the library , and busied himself in considering whether or not the sudden departure of Walsh had any connection with the mysterious midnight intruder . The two events had been near together in point of time ; but he could establish no other relation between them . Then it flashed upon his mind that the man-servant had been the person who had opened or closed his door , and visited his room ; but he was sure he had seen a man near the grand entrance of the estate . He had been all around the house , and Walsh could not have escaped his observation .