midnight
She could not imagine what had happened until Mrs. King told her that Mr. King had confessed to getting letters containing money from the Post Office for Louis , and buying him whisky . Marcella ran out of the house , almost crazed with fright , to look for him . When she had only gone a few hundred yards she ran back , afraid he might come in and need her . It was not until after midnight that a violent knocking on the front door roused Mrs. King and sent Marcella down the stairs in a panic . It was Louis . His eyes were wild , his clothes muddy . He lurched past Mrs. King and , making a great effort , managed to get upstairs .