midnight
For the merest part of a second , however , did his gaze leave the man before him , and when it returned he distinctly saw the figure do this . In making his salaam when outstretching his arms he allowed his hand to pass just over the head of Miss Remsen , who was looking down , perhaps to become relieved from the glare of the other room . Mr. Barnes saw him deliberately and slowly take hold of her ruby pin , gently withdrawing it from her hair . Just then a clock began to chime the midnight hour . Instantaneously a thought flashed through the detective 's mind . At the first note of the chimes the time had passed within which Mr. Mitchel had wagered to commit his robbery . He had thought that the man who had spoken to him had the voice of Mr. Mitchel .