midnight
The hall had been closed an hour before and the disappointed audience , after listening impatiently to the extempore speakers who had tried to fill the time until the principals in the joint debate should appear , had gone home doubtful of the morrow . The auto stopped outside the gate in front of Van Deusen Hall and one of the chauffeurs , still muffled to the eyes , helped Gertrude to the ground . John Allingham had stepped out first . But before he could remonstrate with them for leaving a lady on the street alone and past midnight , in fact , just as he was beginning to ask angrily , why they did not drive in , the man slammed the door , jumped to his seat , and the cab glided away . `` And we have n't the faintest idea who they are ? '' said Miss Van Deusen . `` They did n't have any number -- '' `` If it was n't left with the wreck , '' answered Allingham , `` and they were , doubtless , too sharp for that .