midnight
`` You 'd oblige me greatly by doing so , '' he answered earnestly . `` I do n't know what there is for dinner , but I shall enjoy it all the more myself for the pleasure of your company . '' He made no special inquiries about his wife 's condition , and never went near her ; but as he was in a tolerably advanced state of intoxication before he retired for the night , it was quite as well , perhaps . Mrs. Williamson had probably done her day 's work before I sent for her , and , with all the will in the world to wake and watch , she fell fast asleep before midnight , and I let her sleep . There were only the fires to be attended to -- at least that was all that I could have trusted her to do . Watching the case , generally , and seizing opportune moments to administer remedies would not have been in her line at all . Evadne knew me always , but she lost all count of time .