midnight
There was a murmur of admiration , and Mr. Wright , with a frantic attempt to keep up appearances , tried to thank him , but in vain . Long after the cab had rolled away he stood on the pavement trying to think out a position which was rapidly becoming unendurable . Still keeping up appearances , he had to pretend to go home to look after the pocket-book , leaving the jubilant Mr. Hills to improve the shining hour with Miss Bradshaw . Mr. Kemp , returning home at midnight -- in a cab -- found the young man waiting up for him , and , taking a seat on the edge of the table , listened unmoved to a word-picture of himself which seemed interminable . He was only moved to speech when Mr. Wright described him as a white-whiskered jezebel who was a disgrace to his sex , and then merely in the interests of natural science . `` Do n't you worry , '' he said , as the other paused from exhaustion . `` It wo n't be for long now . ''