midnight
`` Well -- if you promise about the rope . '' Soon he was out of sight , and her heart knew its first pang of fear . Then she heard his cry of `` Got the boat , '' followed by the clank of a sculling oar and the creak of the guiding-wheel on the hawser . At last , shortly before midnight , they neared the hotel . Lights were visible on the quay , and Medenham read their meaning . `` They are sending out a search party , '' he said . `` I must go and stop them .