nearly one o'clock
I will tell Lois to-morrow that I have seen her sister in St. James ' Square . I should n't wonder if she knew all about this house and the party -- and Boriskoff will , if she does n't . '' He contented himself with this ; and the girl having disappeared from the alcove and a footman announced , in a terrible voice , that Lady Smigg 's carriage barred the way , he turned from the house and continued upon his way to the `` caves . '' It was then nearly one o'clock , and save for an occasional hansom making a dash to a club door , St. James ' Street was deserted . Alban took one swift look up and down , crossed the street at a run and disappeared down the court which led to those amazing `` tombs '' of which few in London save the night-birds and the builders so much as suspect the existence . He did not go alone ; he was not , as he thought , unwatched . A detective , commissioned by an unknown patron to follow him , crossed the road directly he had disappeared , and saying , `` So that 's the game , '' began to wonder if he also might dare the venture .