twelve o'clock
Willis smiled as he left her side and joined the detectives . A flood of questions from the officers , interspersed frequently with a number from Willis , and occasionally one from the youthful _ Chronicle _ man , came down upon Valois and John Cavendish , while Miss Donovan , silent and watchful , stood back , frequently letting her eyes admire the tasteful prints upon the walls and the rich hangings in the room of death . Valois repeated his experience , which was corroborated in part by the testimony of John Cavendish 's valet whom he had met and talked with in the hall . The valet also testified that his employer , John Cavendish , had come home not later than twelve o'clock and immediately retired . Then John Cavendish established the fact that ten minutes before arriving home he had dropped Celeste La Rue at her apartment . There was no flaw in any of the stories to which the inquisitors could attach suspicion . One thing alone seemed to irritate Willis .