midnight
In order that you may fully understand the wonderful event which took place the night he died , I shall have to give you a history of his family . '' Quincy consulted his watch . `` It is now but a few minutes past seven . I will give you until midnight , my usual time for retiring . '' `` I have an engagement at ten or thereabouts , '' said Jack , `` but it 's a matter of life instead of death . '' Ned continued : `` My client had a son and daughter , both married . They were good children and loved their father on the American plan .