midnight
I crept stealthily down the ladder , and managed to pass unseen through the lower room , in which several persons were snoring heavily . The outer door was not fastened , and in a hand-turn I was in the street . It was still so early that the trees stood up black against the reddening sky , but the bough upon the post before the door was growing green , and in a few minutes the grey light would be everywhere . Already , even in the roadway , there was a glimmering of it ; and as I stood at the corner of the house -- where I could command both the front and the side on which the stable opened -- sniffing the fresh air , and looking for any trace of the midnight departure , my eyes detected something light-coloured lying on the ground . It was not more than two or three paces from me , and I stepped to it and picked it up curiously , hoping that it might be a note . It was not a note , however , but a tiny orange-coloured sachet such as women carry in the bosom . It was full of some faintly-scented powder , and bore on one side the initial ` E , ' worked in white silk ; and was altogether a dainty little toy , such as women love .