midnight
`` Kathleen might reconsider -- eh ? '' suggestively . `` And -- eh -- there is your invention -- _ your latest invention _ . '' It was approaching midnight when Whitney stepped alone into the hall . The hum of voices rose from the room below ; evidently Vincent had neglected to close the drawing-room doors , or else the Sisters in Unity needed air . Listening intently , he judged from the direction of the voices that the women had not gone into the dining-room . Whitney walked toward the elevator , paused , then continued down the hall and without rapping entered Kathleen 's sitting-room .