three o'clock in the morning
In other words , I believe the murderer stood on the stairs and fired down . In the second place , I found on the edge of the billiard-table a charred cigar which had burned itself partly out , and a cigarette which had consumed itself to the cork tip . Neither one had been more than lighted , then put down and forgotten . Have you any idea what it was that made your nephew and Mr. Bailey leave their cigars and their game , take out the automobile without calling the chauffeur , and all this at -- let me see certainly before three o'clock in the morning ? '' `` I do n't know , '' I said ; `` but depend on it , Mr. Jamieson , Halsey will be back himself to explain everything . '' `` I sincerely hope so , '' he said . `` Miss Innes , has it occurred to you that Mr. Bailey might know something of this ? ''