midnight
`` And you found nothing upon him that might have given you a clue , I suppose ; nothing in his pockets , no marks upon the body , there was nothing he was wearing that might have put you on the track ? '' `` Absolutely nothing , '' I answered , thinking of the locket as I looked straight into her eyes . Never before had I realized how cleverly I could lie . It was close on midnight when we all assembled in the hall preparatory to leaving -- those of us who were leaving . Hugesson Gastrell had left long before , in fact immediately after dinner , as he had , he said , an important appointment in London . Somebody nudged me lightly as he brushed past , and glancing round I caught Osborne 's eye . He made no sign whatever , yet there was something in his look which made me think he wanted me , and a minute later I sauntered after him into the room where the hats and coats had been .