three in the morning
The patrolman was not in sight . She had looked out for this , of course . It was the merest chance that I had seen her , otherwise she would have escaped all observation . At three in the morning there are almost no people abroad in the quieter streets of the city , and Vicky had timed her visit well . Of course , she had her own keys , and I felt sure she had stealthily entered at the basement door , and waited her time to secure the letters from the mail-box . I looked at the mail-box , an unusual appendage to a private residence , but Vicky was away from home so much , it was doubtless necessary . I tried to look in at a window , but all shades were down and there were no lights inside .