midnight
We 'll accept ... your cab , on the distinct ... understanding that YOU are to accept OUR invitation ... to supper . '' M. Max bowed agreeably . `` By all means let MY cab take us to YOUR supper , '' he said , laughing . At a few minutes before midnight , Helen Cumberly and Denise Ryland , escorted by the attentive Frenchman , arrived at Palace Mansions . Any distrust which Helen had experienced at first was replaced now by the esteem which every one of discrimination -LRB- criminals excluded -RRB- formed of M. Max . She perceived in him a very exquisite gentleman , and although the acquaintance was but one hour old , counted him a friend . Denise Ryland was already quite at home in the Cumberly household , and she insisted that Dr. Cumberly would be deeply mortified should M. Gaston take his departure without making his acquaintance .