twelve o'clock
His first words held a menace : `` Say , Maud , I want t ' talk to you . '' `` Very well ; what is it , Ed ? '' replied the girl , quietly . `` I want to know how often you 're going to be out till twelve o'clock with this book agent ? '' Perhaps it was the derisive inflection on `` book agent '' that woke Albert . Brann 's tone was brutal -- more brutal even than his words , and the girl turned pale and her breath quickened . `` Why , Ed , what 's the matter ? ''