midnight
So not only had the necklace been stolen but `` a document '' which the British Secret Service `` could ill afford to part with '' ! Lanyard entertained no least doubt as to the identity of the document in question . There could be but one , he felt , which Stanistreet would so characterize . That document had not been in the safe when Lanyard had opened it at midnight . After a moment Mr. Blensop uttered a musical note of vexation . The lead of his pencil had broken . He threw it pettishly aside , came over to the desk , took up a penholder , dipped it in the ink-well , and returned to his task .