about
midnight
`` Your brother . '' Miriam took the paper , and read what was indicated . It was the report of a discreditable affair -- in journalistic language , a _ fracas _ -- that had happened the previous night at Notting Hill . A certain music-hall singer , a lady who had of late achieved popularity , drove home about midnight , accompanied by a gentleman whose name was also familiar to the public -- at all events , to that portion of it which reads society journals and has an interest in race-horses . The pair had just alighted at the house-door , when they were hurriedly approached by another gentleman , who made some remark to the songstress ; whereupon the individual known to fame struck him smartly with his walking-stick . The result was a personal conflict , a rolling upon the pavement , a tearing of shirt-collars , and the opportune arrival of police . The gentleman whose interference had led to the _ rencontre _ -- again to borrow the reporter 's phrase -- and who was charged with assault by the other , at first gave a false name ; it had since transpired that he was a Mr. R. Elgar , of Belsize Park .