three in the morning
It wo n't be long now before he is here to help us . But I expect we 'll have to look to London before we are through . Anyhow , I 'm not ashamed to say that it is a deal too thick for the likes of me . '' Chapter 4 -- Darkness At three in the morning the chief Sussex detective , obeying the urgent call from Sergeant Wilson of Birlstone , arrived from headquarters in a light dog-cart behind a breathless trotter . By the five-forty train in the morning he had sent his message to Scotland Yard , and he was at the Birlstone station at twelve o'clock to welcome us . White Mason was a quiet , comfortable-looking person in a loose tweed suit , with a clean-shaved , ruddy face , a stoutish body , and powerful bandy legs adorned with gaiters , looking like a small farmer , a retired gamekeeper , or anything upon earth except a very favourable specimen of the provincial criminal officer . `` A real downright snorter , Mr. MacDonald ! ''