midnight
My suspicions as to his identity with the Pirate had become considerably stronger , and once that identity was established I fancied I should have little difficulty in preventing any further annoyance at his hands . Yet when I came to think calmly upon the subject I could not fail to see how frail was the foundation upon which my suspicions were built up . The fancies of a girl , the suspicions of a couple of gossiping servants , and the discovery of a stud , which might or might not prove to be the one which had been stolen from Winter . I longed for Forrest to return , for I felt utterly incapable of resting , and as he had not put in an appearance by midnight , I got out my car and went into St. Albans to meet him . At the police station there was no news of him to be obtained , but I did learn that the Pirate had been seen , his presence having been reported from the vicinity of Bedford . Knowing that it would be impossible for me to sleep until I had seen Forrest ; knowing , too , how unlikely it was that he would now return to St. Albans before morning , I thought I might at least have one shot on my own account of bringing off the capture I so ardently desired . So , in case of an untoward accident happening , I scribbled a note to the detective , telling him briefly what I had heard from the servants , and my intentions ; and making sure that my revolver was in working order , I bade my friends at the police-station good night , and departed .