midnight
He had been sitting with him the night before , he said , and they talked quite cheerfully as usual over their cigars . `` He had even been quizzing me as an old bachelor , '' Mr. Dalton observed , with a faint smile , `` telling me I had wasted my life in solitude , and all that kind of thing . It was a fine night and we sat smoking and chatting until it was quite late , when suddenly I looked at my watch and started up . It was near midnight . '' `` Although I have no one to scold me for keeping late hours , '' said I , `` I must hurry away now ; it is time for respectable Christians to be dreaming . '' `` And are you a respectable Christian , Dalton ? '' he interrupted , playfully .