What is the role of light in "Dusk" by Saki?

In the short story "Dusk," the role of light is that
things can be seen much more clearly in the light. In the dimness of dusk, things are
not as clear. With nightfall approaching, the defeat in man comes crawling
out.

In this short story, the dimness of dusk causes the
man on the bench to be skeptical, for he believes that dusk brings out the defeat in
mankind. The man on the bench is skeptical of the two men that sit on the bench next to
him.

While he may have been wrong about the first man's
situation, he definitely was right in being skeptical of the second man's story. The
second man was a true con artist who could not produce a bar of soap to collaborate his
story of not knowing the name of his hotel.

When the man on
the bench finds a bar of soap under the bench, he is a bit chagrined or embarrassed that
he did not believe the con man's story. Chasing the con man and giving him money as the
man on the bench does so is his only mistake.

When the
first gentleman comes looking for his bar of soap, the man on the bench learns a lesson.
He should have trusted his instincts. Dusk brings out the type of man of which to be
skeptical. Of course, it is too late now for the man on the bench will never see
repayment of the money he gave the con artist.

Dusk is a
time when those of lesser reputation begin crawling about. It is a time to be skeptical
and aware. The man on the bench fell for a con man and loses precious investment in the
life of a con artist. Ironically, the man on the bench was quite aware of such a type to
come crawling out at dusk.