Eight o'clock
But I did expect to hear from the ship 's company to the effect that no such passenger had been on board the _ St. Paul _ . Should this intelligence arrive , there would be so great an increase of the circumstantial evidence against Wildred that I believed the police would be justified in making an arrest . Wildred once arrested and obliged to stand his trial for the crime of murder , Karine Cunningham would be saved . Eight o'clock struck , however , and I was reluctantly obliged to give up all idea of receiving any news from America for the night . Five minutes later , as I restlessly paced the room , the wished-for knock sounded , but there was no cablegram to be presented on a tray . A young , fresh-faced man in plain clothing stood there , who I knew before he spoke must be the expected detective . His information might prove of equal importance with the tidings from America , and I received him cordially .