midnight
It was a glorious day for a drive , he need not stay long at Wilkinson 's , and the team needed exercise . Moreover , Sadie was not about and would not come home until afternoon ; he might get back before her . He hesitated for a few minutes and then sent an order to the stable . At midnight he had not returned , and Sadie sat in the office at the hotel , making futile efforts to fix her attention on a newspaper . The guests had gone to bed and the building was very quiet , but she had kept the ostler up . He might be needed and she could trust him not to talk . At length she heard the sound she listened for .