midnight
He started to speak , and the word `` That 's -- '' escaped him , but he recovered himself and said no more , though he listened intently . Quincy took a glass of wine and a cracker before starting upon the story which had been dictated to him . Leopold gave no sign of falling asleep , but patted his hands lightly together at certain points in the story , whether contemplatively or approvingly Quincy could not determine . As he read the closing lines of the last manuscript the cuckoo clock struck twelve , midnight . `` You are a mighty good reader , Quincy , '' said Leopold , `` and barring fifteen minutes for refreshments , you have been at it ten hours . Now you want my opinion of those stories , and what 's more , you want my advice as to the best place to put them to secure their approval and early publication . Now I am going to smoke a cigar quietly and think the whole thing over , and at half past twelve I will give you my opinion in writing .