midnight
She slowly collapsed on the floor at the feet of the iron old man , who , to save her honor and reputation , had played his part , even as Marteau , in her bedroom on that mad March morning . The old Marquis was face to face with a terribly difficult problem . That the Eagle had been brought back did not admit of doubt . St. Laurent had seen it , and the officers who had been present at the midnight meeting in the Major 's rooms made no attempt whatever to deny it . Marteau admitted it . But it had disappeared . He had not the faintest idea where it was .