midnight
He had simply run , asking no questions . It was when he suddenly discovered Fran in the flesh , as she slipped along a crooked alley , gliding in shadows , that the cause of much sleeplessness was made tangible . Abbott was greatly disturbed . Why should Fran , be stealthily darting down side-alleys at midnight ? The wonder suggested its corollary -- why was he running as from some intangible enemy ? He realized that the Fran-thought had been working in the under-layers of his mental processes all the time his upper crust had busied itself with rehearsals of `` Beyond the Alps lies Italy '' and the determination of Hamlet 's madness . But now was no time for introspection , and he set himself the task of solving the new mystery .