midnight
He brought a lighted candle to bear on the magical closet . It proved to be , as stated , the ordinary blind closet of the ancient Parisian houses , the depth of the wall 's thickness and about three feet wide ; the door being flush with the wall and covered with the same paper , the opening was unnoticeable to the casual view . All Parisian doors close with a snap-lock , and a key is indispensable . This knowledge is acquired by the foreigner after leaving his key on the inside a few times and hunting up a locksmith after midnight . The back of these closets , which are used for cupboards as well as receptacles for clothing , abuts on the adjoining room , quite often , in a thin sheathing of lath and plaster , which , being covered with the wall-paper , is concealed from the neighboring eyes , but through which a listener may be constantly informed as to what is going on next door . A superficial survey of the place having developed no unusual characteristics , Jean took down all of his clothing and emptied the closet of its contents to the last old shoe . With the candle to assist him , he then carefully examined the rear wall .