midnight
`` I 'm rather looking forward to an evening alone . '' `` And that 's an odd thing to look forward to , '' remarked Francis . `` Not when you want to play the piano . I shall have a chop here at eight , and probably thump away till midnight . '' Francis looked round for his hat and stick . `` I must go , '' he said . `` I ought to have gone long ago , but I did n't want to .